Major Power Shift: Ameren's Clean Energy Push, Invenergy's Pipeline Plan, and U.S. Renewables Surge
Ameren, a significant power company, is transitioning towards cleaner energy sources. By 2024, it plans to add 700 MW of wind power and reduce coal usage to just 8% of its rate base. Meanwhile, Invenergy is designing a 349-mile underground pipeline network to transport clean energy from Iowa to the Chicago area.
The shift to cleaner energy is accelerating in the U.S. Renewables are now expected to surpass coal in power generation earlier than anticipated, thanks to reduced demand and cheap natural gas prices.
In infrastructure news, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened a public comment period on Enbridge's plan to build a tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac for the Line 5 pipeline. Simultaneously, Iowa regulators are holding a public hearing on a proposed 349-mile underground transmission line to carry clean energy from Iowa to Chicago.
Environmental concerns are also prominent. A tribe in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is challenging the Line 5 pipeline, backed by Indigenous and environmental law groups. Two Michigan congress members oppose granting legal immunity to oil, gas, and coal industries in future COVID-19-related legislation. Environmental groups have raised concerns about Duke Energy's reliance on coal until 2050, despite its net-zero carbon pledge.
Locally, St. Louis has implemented a new energy performance standard for large buildings, aiming to enhance efficiency. In Illinois, a $400 million renewable diesel plant is planned to convert waste into fuel. We Energies, in Wisconsin, is constructing a high-pressure natural gas line to boost gas reliability in the southeastern region.
These developments underscore the ongoing shift towards cleaner energy and improved infrastructure in the U.S. Power companies, regulators, and environmental advocates are all playing vital roles in driving this transition.
