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Electricity and Ameren obligations surface in debate over renewables and who bears interconnection costs
Summary
Board members pressed developers and Ameren‑related counsel on who pays for grid upgrades and whether on‑site renewable generation is feasible; developers said large‑load tariffs and construction agreements require the customer to fund needed extensions, and city staff and the board discussed collateral options.
A major thread in the hearing was who bears the full cost of grid interconnection and whether on‑site renewable generation could meaningfully reduce the project's grid demand.
Developer representatives repeatedly referred to Ameren’s large‑load tariff and a signed construction agreement, saying the developer has borne payments and that tariff rules require customers to fund extension and interconnection costs. A developer representative summarized: "we have signed a construction agreement, and we have agreed to payments, and we've made payments already for those improvements." At the same time, developers and city sustainability staff warned that rooftop solar would supply only a small fraction of a 120‑megawatt load; the board ultimately added a minimum on‑site generation requirement (2.4 MW) but left room for the petitioner to demonstrate infeasibility and seek an amendment.
