Edward Smith, edward.smith@sierraclub.org
St. Louis, MO – Today, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates monopoly utilities like Ameren Missouri, unanimously approved the utility’s proposal to build and own a 150 megawatt solar farm in White County, Illinois. That is enough clean energy to power about 16,000 homes. Sierra Club intervened before the PSC in support of the Boomtown Solar Project.
Ameren Missouri operates within a regional grid called the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). The MISO grid covers fifteen states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. In 2021, solar only accounted for less than one percent of the total energy generated within MISO’s territory. Ameren Missouri has committed to 800 megawatts of new solar by 2025, 2,000 megawatts of new wind by 2030, but no new battery storage until 2033 in its latest long-range energy plan.
Great Rivers Environmental Law Center represented Sierra Club before the PSC.
Statement from Jenn DeRose, Missouri Campaign Representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign:
“I hope that this project marks the beginning of an ambitious transition to a clean energy future, accelerated by the Inflation Reduction Act with strong support from our regulatory agencies. Bringing on new renewable energy and storage combined with energy efficiency and transmission upgrades is exactly what we need to avert the worst impacts of our changing climate. Sierra Club applauds the Commission for approving this needed solar project.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.