Ameren Missouri files 2026 integrated resource plan with energy demand growth projections
The plan details long-term energy needs, capacity additions in natural gas, renewables, nuclear, and battery storage, and load growth forecasts.
Ameren Corporation (AEE) said on Monday that its subsidiary, Union Electric Company, doing business as Ameren Missouri, filed its non-binding integrated resource plan for 2026 with the Missouri Public Service Commission.
The regulatory filing showed that the plan includes Ameren Missouri's preferred strategy for meeting customers' projected long-term energy needs in a least-cost manner. The filing outlined forecasted energy demand growth assumptions and high load growth scenarios ranging from approximately 2.9 gigawatts to 3.9 gigawatts by 2030, 5 gigawatts to 6 gigawatts by 2035, and 6 gigawatts to 9 gigawatts by 2045.
The preferred plan reflects investments in natural gas-fired generation, renewable resources, battery energy storage, and new nuclear generation, alongside the retirement of coal and certain existing natural gas-fired energy centers. The additions include 2,100 megawatts of combined-cycle natural gas generation resources by 2031, an additional 2,800 megawatts by 2035, and a further 1,400 megawatts by 2042.
Ameren Missouri plans to add 1,900 megawatts of simple-cycle natural gas generation resources by 2029 and an additional 2,400 megawatts by 2045. The resource plan also includes 500 megawatts of natural gas fuel cells by 2030, 1,300 megawatts of solar generation by 2030, and an additional 1,050 megawatts by 2035.
Additional capacity additions include 1,500 megawatts of wind generation by 2040, 2,400 megawatts of battery energy storage by 2030, and 1,200 megawatts of new nuclear generation by 2040. The utility also plans the continued implementation of customer energy efficiency and demand response programs.
The preferred plan extends the retirement date of two units at the Labadie coal-fired energy center from 2036 to 2042 and includes the retirement of approximately 1,800 megawatts of natural gas-fired energy centers by 2040. Ameren Missouri also expects to seek and receive Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval for an operating license extension for the Callaway nuclear energy center beyond its current 2044 expiration date, according to the filing.