Callaway solar plant to lead Ameren renewable investments
Ameren Missouri received approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission to build a 250-megawatt solar farm in Callaway County, set to be Missouri's largest. The facility will primarily supply energy to large-load consumers like data centers, including planned Google and Amazon facilities. The Office of Public Counsel raised concerns about cost allocation, suggesting large-load consumers should bear the full cost.
Ameren Missouri has secured approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) to construct a 250-megawatt solar farm in rural Callaway County, adjacent to its existing Nuclear Energy Facility. This project, set to be the largest solar farm in Missouri and operational by 2028, is a key component of Ameren's plan to bring 1,500 megawatts of large load additions online by 2032 and another 1,000 megawatts by 2040, primarily to serve the rapid growth of data centers.
The utility's 2025 Integrated Resource Plan update explicitly states that the solar farm will help meet the escalating energy demands from data centers, driven by AI training, hyperscale cloud expansion, and digital infrastructure. While the Office of Public Counsel did not formally oppose the project, it suggested in a filing that large-load consumers, such as data centers, should bear the full cost of the facility upon completion. Sarah Fontaine, director of strategic communications at the PSC, indicated that cost allocation would be determined later in a rate case.
The project is expected to benefit from federal tax credits, including a 100 percent production tax credit and a 30 percent investment tax credit via the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, potentially offering a 40 percent discount for ratepayers, according to Dan Stroh, senior renewable development manager at Ameren Missouri. Stroh emphasized that the plant would supply energy to all customers. PSC Chairwoman Kayla Hahn noted the general need for more generation in Missouri to replace aging infrastructure and meet emerging demand for economic development, including data centers, citing the project's quick turnaround and use of existing Ameren-owned land as key factors in its approval. The plan also aims for a "balanced energy mix" by 2030, with renewables, nuclear, and natural gas each contributing about a third of the energy generation. The project is expected to create 300 construction jobs and additional long-term positions.