New solar facilities providing power to homes and businesses
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - With the start of the new year comes an increase in the amount of electricity generated by Ameren solar facilities. In recent weeks, Ameren announced that 3 new solar power-generating facilities have come online.
Scott Wibbenmeyer, senior director of renewable development for Ameren, stressed the company’s commitment to solar energy.
“We really see it as one of the lowest cost ways to produce new generation. It’s pollution-free. So there are a lot of benefits to our customers,” he said.
The new facilities are located in Cass County, Illinois, White County, Illinois and a site in both Audrain and Ralls counties in Missouri. Combined they generate up to 500 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power 92,000 homes.
“We’re really excited about that, but that’s just the start. We have another 400 megawatts, almost a duplicate of that, planned for the next few years going into service,” said Wibbenmeyer.
He said the new facility is under construction in Warren County.
To ensure that the company’s many solar s are operating properly, employees fly a drone with a thermal imaging camera over the s during regular inspections. Hot spots on s could indicate potential problems that might warrant repairs or replacement of a .
Just as Ameren is increasing the amount of electricity it generates using solar power, the number of homeowners turning to solar energy is growing also. California, Texas and Florida are the states with the most homes with solar s, but according to Ameren, there are 10,000 homes in Missouri where solar s have been installed and connected to the electric grid.
Seth Burdine and his wife installed solar s on their Creve Coeur house in 2021. The out-of-pocket cost was $28,000 after tax credits and incentives. He said they made the decision based on environmental concerns and for long-term savings.
“But once everything got in place it’s been great. We don’t have an energy bill most months,” Burdine said.
Ameren operates a number of solar facilities, from large solar energy centers to neighborhood solar facilities. The company is targeting net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2045.
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