Residents worry Ameren gas plant in St. Louis County will be expensive, dirty
Residents and advocacy groups on Friday blasted a proposal from regional electric utility Ameren to build a $900 million natural gas-fired power plant in south St. Louis County.
In a public hearing in front of the state Public Service Commission, speakers worried about the cost, the volatility of natural gas prices, the reliability of the fuel source in extreme conditions, impacts on local air quality and public health, and how it could exacerbate climate change.
"Ameren speaks about their commitment to clean energy, but methane gas is not a clean energy source," said Jennifer Jaynes, one of the participants on Friday's call. "I respectfully urge the PSC to vote no on this proposal."
Ameren touts the project, on the site of its former Meramec Energy Center, near Arnold, as a necessity. Its aging coal fleet faces retirement, and, at the same time, the utility is bracing for heightened power demand, particularly as data centers and other energy-intensive commercial activities become more widespread . While Ameren is also embarking on a plan to invest billions in renewable energy over the next decade-plus, it says that projects like this one, called Castle Bluff, are needed to help ensure reliability during times of peak electricity demand, such as during intense summer heat or, especially, extreme winter weather.
"Why are we wanting to build this plant?" Warren Wood, Ameren Missouri's vice president of regulatory & legislative affairs, said on Friday. "It really comes down to one key issue: reliability."
And planning it at the former Meramec plant, which closed at the end of 2022 , will save ratepayers money, the company said.
But plenty have also criticized the process: Friday's hearing was held virtually, in the middle of the workday, and was the only hearing scheduled on the proposal. A few dozen attended.
"That's one of the things that has really struck us," said Beth Gutzler, an organizer for the Metropolitan Congregations United, a coalition of regional churches that advocate on issues including air pollution.
It's far different than the level of public scrutiny that some large projects tied to renewable energy have faced in the state, critics noted. For instance, the Grain Belt Express transmission line, which seeks to distribute Kansas wind energy to Missouri and states farther east, has had a litany of in-person public hearings over the years.
The PSC does not appear to have the same standards for this gas plant, said James Owen, the executive director for Renew Missouri, a group that advocates for increased adoption of renewable energy in the state.
"I don't know that they particularly care what the public thinks," he said. "It's concerning."
Skeptics also worry about the objectiveness of some state regulators who must decide whether to approve the project. For example, in a recent meeting, PSC Commissioner Kayla Hahn urged the utility to build new gas generation, and even scolded the company for not advancing such proposals sooner.
A judge facilitating Friday's call said the commission must remain impartial until all evidence is presented.
The PSC declined to respond to related questions Friday, since the case is ongoing.
An initial round of testimony from experts, regulatory officials, and other intervenors was recently filed with the PSC.
The agency's staff recommended approving the project with certain conditions.
Further testimony will be filed before the commission makes a decision on the project.
Energy and environment
