Ameren Missouri plans new energy center to deliver long-term value and around-the-clock power

Project designed to support reliable service during periods of high demand, extreme weather and changing grid conditions

Ameren Missouri recently announced plans to build the West Alton Energy Center, a new combined-cycle natural gas generation facility. The project is designed to provide reliable, around-the-clock baseload power for customers while keeping costs as low as possible, supporting economic development in the region and strengthening the company's balanced mix of generation resources.

By expanding in-state energy production, the West Alton Energy Center will help power Missouri's growing economy while ensuring communities have access to reliable electricity.

In an application filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission, Ameren Missouri laid out its plans for the proposed energy center. Located in St. Charles County near the company's Sioux Energy Center, the proposed energy center will generate approximately 2,100 megawatts (MW), with an anticipated completion date of 2031, pending regulatory approval. Additionally, the project is anticipated to generate more than 1,000 construction jobs over several years.

"Customers count on reliable energy to keep their homes comfortable, care for their families, run their businesses and stay connected to the things that matter most," said Aaron Melda, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri. "The West Alton Energy Center is one way we're preparing for Missouri's future and supporting the growing needs of our communities. Missouri has seen incredible economic development wins over the past year, and we're pleased to support this growth."

Adding 2,100 MW of dependable generation will further improve reliability and contribute to Ameren Missouri's balanced generation mix, which is designed to optimize costs over the long term. The West Alton Energy Center will also strengthen Missouri's energy security by supplying dependable, in-state generation to serve homes, businesses and growing communities across the state.

"Projects such as the West Alton Energy Center are designed to perform under a wide range of conditions and periods of high demand," said Ajay Arora, executive vice president and chief growth and generation development officer at Ameren Missouri. "As our generation fleet evolves, this facility will add a highly efficient, Missouri-based resource that can operate 24/7 and work alongside our other resources to help maintain reliability for our customers."

Building the West Alton Energy Center near the company's existing Sioux Energy Center allows Ameren Missouri to utilize equipment and connections already on site. This will let the company maximize existing resources, provide more value for customers and take the proactive steps needed to maintain reliability and support continued economic growth across the region.

"Families and businesses are balancing competing priorities every day, which is why we're focused on making smart investments, controlling project costs and getting the most value from every dollar," Melda said.

In its filing with the PSC, the company explains its plans for the West Alton Energy Center are designed to keep costs as low as possible for customers and requests a financing approach that a 2024 analysis by the state of Missouri found lowers project costs by millions of dollars. Known as Construction-Work-in-Progress (CWIP), this financing tool would allow Ameren Missouri to recover costs associated with the construction of the new energy center in a way that would avoid millions of dollars in accumulated interest costs for the company's customers.

"When companies decide where to expand and create jobs, they need to know the infrastructure is in place to back their growth," Melda said. "Investments such as the West Alton Energy Center help ensure Missouri is ready for those opportunities while continuing to serve the people and businesses that already call our state home. We're committed to making those investments thoughtfully and with careful attention to costs, and the MoPSC will provide oversight throughout the process."

To learn more about the proposed West Alton Energy Center, please visit Ameren.com/WestAlton.