Large U.S. Coal Burning Utility Adding 100MW of Wind Power

AmerenUE, a St. Louis based utility, one of the largest coal burning utilities in the United States has agreed to buy 100 megawatts of clean wind power to satisfy terms of a recent rate increase granted by the Missouri Public Service Commission.

The soon-to-be built Rail Splitter Wind farm, located just south of Peoria, Illinois has been chosen as the green energy supplier for AmerenUE, The large wind farm will consist of 60 turbines dotting locations spread out over 11,000 acres.

AmerenUE supplies power to about 1.1 million customers in the state of Missouri. In July, Missouri regulators allowed a $43 million rate increase, but included a provision that mandated that the utility 100MW of green power by 2010. Construction is begin in early 2008 and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.