Proposed West Alton, Mo., Ameren Plant Could Bring 1,000 Construction Jobs

WEST ALTON, MO. - Ameren Missouri announced on Monday, July 26, 2026, that it has filed an application with the Missouri Public Service Commission to build the West Alton Energy Center, a proposed 2,100-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas facility in West Alton, Mo., that the utility says would support around-the-clock power needs, grid reliability and economic growth, with a target completion date of 2031 pending regulatory approval.

The proposed plant would be built next to Ameren Missouri’s Sioux Energy Center near Missouri Highway 94. Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, is seeking an order from the commission by May 2027. The company also is asking regulators to approve a financing approach that could allow certain project costs to be recovered from customers during construction rather than after the facility begins operating.

Ameren said the West Alton Energy Center is intended to provide dependable baseload power during periods of high demand, extreme weather and changing grid conditions, while expanding in-state generation as Missouri’s economy grows and other power facilities reach the end of their useful lives.

“Customers count on reliable energy to keep their homes comfortable, care for their families, run their businesses and stay connected to the things that matter most,” Aaron Melda, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri, said. “The West Alton Energy Center is one way we’re preparing for Missouri’s future and supporting the growing needs of our communities. Missouri has seen incredible economic development wins over the past year, and we’re pleased to support this growth.”

Ameren said the facility would generate about 2,100 megawatts of electricity and create more than 1,000 construction jobs over several years. Another project description said the completed plant would have around 45 permanent jobs.

The utility said locating the plant beside the Sioux Energy Center would allow it to use equipment and connections already on site, which would maximize existing resources and provide value for customers.

“Projects such as the West Alton Energy Center are designed to perform under a wide range of conditions and periods of high demand,” said Ajay Arora, executive vice president and chief growth and generation development officer at Ameren Missouri. “As our generation fleet evolves, this facility will add a highly efficient, Missouri-based resource that can operate 24/7 and work alongside our other resources to help maintain reliability for our customers.”

Ameren has not publicly disclosed official cost estimates for the project, and the impact on customer rates is unclear based on the information released.

The financing request centers on a method known as Construction Work in Progress, which became legal under Missouri law last year and allows utilities to recover certain financing costs tied to a project before it is complete. In online project materials, Ameren said the approach “could reduce financing costs and lower the total cost of the project for customers.”

Ameren said its filing recommends a financing approach that a 2024 analysis by the state of Missouri found lowers project costs by millions of dollars.

“Families and businesses are balancing competing priorities every day, which is why we’re focused on making smart investments, controlling project costs and getting the most value from every dollar,” Melda said.

The company said state law and its Powering Missouri Growth Plan include provisions intended to make sure data centers cover the costs of the infrastructure needed to serve them, which it said would protect existing customers while providing reliable service.

“When companies decide where to expand and create jobs, they need to know the infrastructure is in place to back their growth,” Melda said. “Investments such as the West Alton Energy Center help ensure Missouri is ready for those opportunities while continuing to serve the people and businesses that already call our state home. We’re committed to making those investments thoughtfully and with careful attention to costs, and the MoPSC will provide oversight throughout the process.”

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