Ameren in Power Plant Development Push Outside Illinois

CHICAGO-After embarking on an Illinois power plant expansion tear over the past several years, St. Louis-based Ameren Corp.’s development arm is setting its growth sights outside the state for the first time, company officials say.

“We are actively looking at development projects outside of Illinois,” says Rick Smith, manager generation development for Ameren Energy Resources Co., the power plant development arm of Ameren. Smith would not divulge exactly where Ameren is looking to expand nor would he give a possible time frame for any development announcements.

Ameren, like other power developers nationwide such as Calpine, Duke and Dynegy, has been building plants at a fast pace in order to meet demand following years of inactivity due to industry uncertainty caused by rapid deregulation of the electric utility business. In the past year, Ameren has developed projects in Gibson City, Pickneyville and Patoka.