Hi - I'm completely aware this isn't probably the typical solar question, but I hope those on the forum will hear me out and offer any feedback that comes to mind. I'm *very* interested in doing my part to transition to renewable energy sources. I'm a renter in the St. Louis area (Missouri). If I owned, one of the first things I'd do is install solar panels, but that's not currently possible. My local electric utility provider is Ameren Missouri. For a long time now they've had a program called "Pure Power", which I've been a member of for the last few years.
Ameren's Pure Power program is supposed to purchase the equivalent amount of electricity I use from a renewable source. This costs me a few more cents per kWh, which I'm happy to pay if my energy is coming from a renewable source. In my case, the renewable source is wind. Reportedly, Ameren has a wind farm in Northwest Missouri they generate *some* power from. I haven't been able to find the exact numbers, but I'm nearly positive the majority of their energy is generated from non-renewable sources (coal, nuclear, gas/oil).
Recently I found that Ameren is offering a new renewable energy program: Solar. They've built a new 1MW solar facility in the St. Louis area. More info here and here, but basically they are allowing customers to purchase "solar power in blocks" of 100 kWh units each month, up to half of their power usage.
I understand the *actual* electricity that comes to my apartment isn't coming directly from a wind farm (or solar if I switch to that), but that Ameren is supposed to source my equivalent usage into their grid from wind.
I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has any insight into these types of programs? Are they 100% legit or is there possibly some creative math being used? Is this really as good as if I generated all of my power myself from wind and solar? Is Ameren doing this because of government mandate or are they legitimately interested in transitioning to renewable sources?
Despite extensive web searching I can't find a lot of concrete details, more just "fluff" info from Ameren themselves. I would love to hear any thoughts on this topic as I cannot find anyone locally who has ever been involved or even aware of Ameren's Pure Power or new Solar Community projects. Thank you.
Ameren's Pure Power program is supposed to purchase the equivalent amount of electricity I use from a renewable source. This costs me a few more cents per kWh, which I'm happy to pay if my energy is coming from a renewable source. In my case, the renewable source is wind. Reportedly, Ameren has a wind farm in Northwest Missouri they generate *some* power from. I haven't been able to find the exact numbers, but I'm nearly positive the majority of their energy is generated from non-renewable sources (coal, nuclear, gas/oil).
Recently I found that Ameren is offering a new renewable energy program: Solar. They've built a new 1MW solar facility in the St. Louis area. More info here and here, but basically they are allowing customers to purchase "solar power in blocks" of 100 kWh units each month, up to half of their power usage.
I understand the *actual* electricity that comes to my apartment isn't coming directly from a wind farm (or solar if I switch to that), but that Ameren is supposed to source my equivalent usage into their grid from wind.
I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has any insight into these types of programs? Are they 100% legit or is there possibly some creative math being used? Is this really as good as if I generated all of my power myself from wind and solar? Is Ameren doing this because of government mandate or are they legitimately interested in transitioning to renewable sources?
Despite extensive web searching I can't find a lot of concrete details, more just "fluff" info from Ameren themselves. I would love to hear any thoughts on this topic as I cannot find anyone locally who has ever been involved or even aware of Ameren's Pure Power or new Solar Community projects. Thank you.
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