Ameren Corporation’s subsidiary Ameren Missouri has agreed to acquire a 400MW wind farm in northeast Missouri, after the completion of its construction.
Image: Acquisition of the wind farm is part of Ameren Missouri’s commitment to cleaner energy. Photo: Courtesy of Ali Farid/FreeImages.com.
Considered to be the largest in the state, the wind farm will be built by an affiliate of Terra-Gen, Located in Adair and Schuyler counties, construction on the wind farm is expected to take place next summer.
Ameren Missouri president Michael Moehn said: “We are excited to take this transformative step to bring more renewable generation to our customers.
“Adding more wind energy will help us achieve our goal to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2050.”
The acquisition is subject to several conditions including the timely approval from Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) and receiving a timely and acceptable Midcontinent Independent System Operator transmission interconnection agreement.
This wind farm will include 175 wind turbines, which are claimed to stand 450ft above the ground. Clean electricity generated from the wind farm will be enough to be supplied to 120,000 US homes by 2020.
Ameren Missouri power operations and energy management vice president Ajay Arora said: “This major wind development would benefit our customers, the communities we serve and the environment.
“Missouri-based wind generation recently became an affordable option. These planned investments in wind energy would help keep customers’ rates more stable over time. Our state would also benefit from continued investment and economic growth, including hundreds of construction jobs, as well as permanent jobs when the turbines are in service.”
The wind farm will benefit from the expanded transmission capacity made possible by Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois’ Mark Twain Transmission Project, approved in January by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC). The transmission project has a targeted in-service date of December 2019.
Moehn said: “The new transmission line is vital to the expansion of renewable energy generation and distribution in Missouri.
“In addition to being an engine for economic growth, the Mark Twain Transmission Project will strengthen our region’s energy grid and deliver greater energy reliability.”
The company stated that the acquisition announcement is the first major step in implementing Ameren Missouri’s Integrated Resource Plan, a 20-year outlook that supports the development of cleaner energy in the state.