Ameren’s subsidiary Ameren Missouri has agreed to acquire the 157MW Brickyard Hill wind farm located in northwest Missouri, from EDF Renewables North America.
Image: Ameren to buy wind farm from EDF Renewables. Photo: Courtesy of Dan Wenger/FreeImages.com.
Ameren stated that this agreement, along with the previously announced plan to acquire 400MW wind farm in Missouri, is part of its planned growth of renewable energy by 2020.
The Brickyard Hill wind facility will be located in Atchison County and it is expected to be operational in 2020. The electricity generated from the wind farm will be enough to power nearly 47,000 homes and this facility is expected to help Ameren Missouri meet its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, based on 2005 levels.
Ameren Missouri president Michael Moehn said: “Our transition to cleaner forms of generation is building momentum. Investing in renewable generation, with the majority in Missouri, benefits our customers and the communities we serve by keeping rates steady and increasing economic activity.”
During the construction phase, the Ameren Missouri’s Ameren Missouri’s planned addition of wind farms will generate nearly 280 jobs as well as several permanent jobs when the turbines are in service.
Ameren Missouri power operations and energy management vice president Ajay Arora said: “Between the substantial improvements in the wind turbine technology, and declining prices, it makes a lot of sense for us to be making this significant investment.
“As we grow renewable energy, we’re also preparing smart technology upgrades for the state’s energy grid. Combined, they will create long-lasting, positive impacts for our customers.”
The two transactions are subject several conditions including approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission and receiving timely and acceptable transmission interconnection agreement from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator.
EDF Renewables power marketing senior director Dai Owen said: “EDF Renewables is pleased to partner with Ameren to help them execute on the transition to cleaner forms of generation.
“Wind power, the largest source of US renewable electricity generating capacity, plays a key role at the center of our country’s energy transformation. Ameren shares in our mission to deliver affordable, clean, reliable energy while at the same time growing the economy.”