Ameren Illinois Completes Second East St. Louis Solar Farm
Date Posted: November 21, 2024
Posted In: Environment/Sustainability, Organizations, Projects,
From St. Louis Public Radio: Ameren Illinois on Tuesday unveiled the completion of the second of its two solar farms in East St. Louis in the utility’s effort to create more sustainable energy.
East St. Louis resident Imogene Hairston lives steps from Ameren Illinois’ newly built solar energy farm in the Metro East town.
The more than 3,000-panel facility, located on the north side of town near the Gordon Bush School, will produce nearly 1.4 megawatts of power that can energize 650 homes in the region, according to the company.
“This pilot is an incredible victory for our region and for clean energy,” said Kristol Simms, senior vice president of clean energy transition for Ameren Illinois.
The power generated from harnessing the sun’s energy will help fuel the grid for customers in the eastern half of East St. Louis, said Lenny Singh, president and chairman of Ameren Illinois.
When the sun goes down, a 500-kilowatt battery will store excess electricity to continue powering the grid. This location also has an electric vehicle charging station.
The project, known as East St. Louis Energy Center II, is part of the first renewable energy project approved under the Illinois General Assembly’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act — 2021 legislation that aims to transition Illinois to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The legislation, also known as CEJA, opened the door for the $6.9 million project.