Ameren Missouri Proposes Pollution-Heavy Future to Power Data Centers

SAINT LOUIS, Mo. – Late yesterday, Ameren Missouri filed a proposed long-range energy plan with its regulators at the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC). If approved as proposed, Ameren Missouri would significantly increase its reliance on fossil fuels, including a large increase in gas-burning power plants and extended coal-burning at its Labadie and Sioux plants. Labadie is the deadliest coal plant in the country. 

Ameren’s significant investment in new gas and continued coal burning coincides with the utility dropping its carbon dioxide emissions reduction goals from the promotional materials for its latest energy plan. Ironically, Ameren cites recent extreme weather as a justification for its gas-heavy investments, a plan that will exacerbate local climate disasters. Extreme weather can also quickly send the price of gas skyrocketing, as was the case during Winter Storm Uri. 

The Sierra Club actively intervenes when Ameren files its energy plans before the PSC. In previous years, Ameren admitted that it does not consider the public health impacts of the energy generation investments it makes, including new gas plants and coal plant extensions. Additionally, Ameren does not consider the climate impact of fugitive emissions from the extraction and transportation of natural gas, which is predominantly methane, a potent greenhouse gas. 

Ameren released its new energy plan against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s proposal to repeal the Endangerment Finding, the basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. 

Significant and concerning changes to Ameren’s energy plan from last year include: 

• Eliminated new wind investments before 2030 and reduced total wind investment by 500 MW, 
• Delay coal plant closures, including Sioux from a range of 2031-2035 to 2035 and two units at Labadie by six years (from 2036 to 2042), 
• Reduced pre-2030 solar investments by 900 MW (from 2,200 MW to 1,300 MW), and
• Plan 5,400 MW of new gas by 2032, an increase of 1,700 MW by 2032. 

Statement from Jenn DeRose, Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign Strategist in Missouri: 

“The saying goes to stop digging if you’re in a hole, but Ameren is still digging with its pollution-heavy plan even though it admits extreme weather events are increasing. Burning more coal and gas will only increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, and floods. Ameren and tech companies are gambling with the future of humanity as they power data centers with coal and gas. We need Ameren to stop making bad investments for families and small businesses, and this plan is full of them. Unless elected officials, business owners and every customer start holding Ameren accountable, we’ll be stuck with an expensive and polluting electric grid that benefits billionaires and harms struggling families.”