Planning for a Cleaner Environment

Programs, like Power On, demonstrate that we are responding to our customers’ need for improved reliability—burying lines where appropriate, increasing our pole and line maintenance programs, stepping up our tree trimming and removals and more.

However, we also know that our customers are concerned about the environment. Power On sets aside $500 million for environmental improvements, including a scrubber we are installing at AmerenUE’s Sioux Plant.

We are also installing scrubbers on the non-rate-regulated generation side of our business at the Duck Creek Plant and Coffeen Power Station. These technologies will remove at least 95 percent of the plants’ sulfur dioxide emissions.

Our environmental plans are discussed in more detail in our first comprehensive environmental report, “Stewardship: Balancing the Needs of Our Environment, Our Customers and Our Economy.” This publication—which you can view at www.ameren.com/EnvReport —also states that Ameren would firmly support a mandated reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions as long as that requirement effectively balances the benefits to the environment against cost to consumers and the risk of economic disruption to the economy in the Midwest and throughout the nation.

After extensive analysis, we have concluded that any federal climate legislation must include reductions for all greenhouse gas sources, set compliance timelines consistent with development and deployment of advanced technologies, be global in approach and recognize the significant economic impact reducing CO₂ will have on our region’s consumers and businesses. Our current analysis shows that under some policy scenarios being considered, because of the dependence on coal-fired generation in the Midwest, household costs could rise significantly and rates for electricity could double by 2030.

We will protect our customers’ and your interests in arguing our case for a balanced, reasoned approach to reductions of greenhouse gases, and we look forward to continuing our active engagement in discussions about this important issue at both federal and state levels. I encourage you to also get involved in this important debate.