Missouri utilities must perform integrated resource planning every three years. In conjunction with this, the Missouri PSC opens a docket to collect ideas for the utility to "consider and analyze" in their integrated resource plan, which it calls "special contemporary issues". These issues must be outside the regular planning, and they must be "contemporary" and truly "special". The PSC can order the utility to consider any of the contemporary issues that are filed in the docket before the planning begins. While the PSC cannot order that the utility adopt one plan or the other, it can order the utility to consider certain issues in its planning.
What is integrated resource planning? Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) is a strategic roadmap that utilities use to plan for future energy needs by evaluating supply and demand-side resources like power plants, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. This process considers risks, benefits, costs, reliability, and environmental impacts to create a long-term plan for how the utility will meet customer demand reliably and affordably.
Recently, the MO PSC opened a docket to begin the process for Ameren's 2026 Integrated Resource Plan. Docket No. EO-2026-0037. The PSC requested parties to file any contemporary and special issues they wanted included in Ameren's planning.
Filings were made by the PSC Staff and the Office of Public Counsel. Grain Belt Express also made a filing, pushing its project as a special contemporary issue that Ameren should consider when creating its plan for serving its customers.
Where's the customers, Invenergy? Is Grain Belt still so desperate for customers that it's trying to make the PSC force consideration of GBE into Ameren's Integrated Resource Plan?
Grain Belt Express submitted three issues for consideration. The first two issues have already been agreed to by Ameren in a prior settlement in which the PSC granted an order for Ameren to construct and own the Castle Bluff 800MW natural gas electric generation station (Case No. EA-2024-0237).
Those issues are:
What is integrated resource planning? Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) is a strategic roadmap that utilities use to plan for future energy needs by evaluating supply and demand-side resources like power plants, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. This process considers risks, benefits, costs, reliability, and environmental impacts to create a long-term plan for how the utility will meet customer demand reliably and affordably.
Recently, the MO PSC opened a docket to begin the process for Ameren's 2026 Integrated Resource Plan. Docket No. EO-2026-0037. The PSC requested parties to file any contemporary and special issues they wanted included in Ameren's planning.
Filings were made by the PSC Staff and the Office of Public Counsel. Grain Belt Express also made a filing, pushing its project as a special contemporary issue that Ameren should consider when creating its plan for serving its customers.
Where's the customers, Invenergy? Is Grain Belt still so desperate for customers that it's trying to make the PSC force consideration of GBE into Ameren's Integrated Resource Plan?
Grain Belt Express submitted three issues for consideration. The first two issues have already been agreed to by Ameren in a prior settlement in which the PSC granted an order for Ameren to construct and own the Castle Bluff 800MW natural gas electric generation station (Case No. EA-2024-0237).
Those issues are:
Grain Belt Express Issue A: Ameren shall model and share the results of generation that can be delivered through Grain Belt Express to Ameren’s service territory. For this modeling, Ameren shall use data for generic Kansas resources, including wind, solar, battery and natural gas generation, as distinct from data for generic Missouri and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (“MISO”) resources. For this modeling, Ameren shall also use an ownership and delivery cost based on discussions between Ameren and Grain Belt Express. If a firm delivery cost cannot be provided by Grain Belt, Ameren shall use a range of delivery costs to account for uncertainties in what the actual ownership and delivery costs may be.
Grain Belt Express Issue B: Ameren shall weigh the reliability, resiliency, and operational benefits of HVDC transmission facilities. In particular, Ameren shall weigh resource diversity values, cost-effective black-start capabilities, active and reactive power control, voltage and frequency control, dynamic voltage support, emergency power control and power modulation, and damping of electro-mechanical oscillations.
Nothing the PSC, Ameren, or GBE can do about those issues since they are part of an existing settlement. Just because Ameren is going to "study" those things does NOT mean that it will find GBE beneficial for its customers.
In the IRP docket, GBE tried to add a third special contemporary issue.
In the IRP docket, GBE tried to add a third special contemporary issue.
Grain Belt Express Issue C: Ameren shall also assess the potential resource adequacy value provided by Grain Belt Express’s ability to access available generation in neighboring regions. This value is separate from the capacity value of contracted resources with firm transmission on Grain Belt Express. Ameren shall conduct probabilistic analysis using a methodology equivalent to that used by PowerGEM (formerly, Astrape) to evaluate the resource adequacy value of the North Plains Connector.
Ameren objected, stating:
This issue goes beyond the bounds of IRP requirements to evaluate "generic" resources and contemplates analysis that is outside the resource adequacy considerations of Ameren Missouri; therefore, it should not be considered a special contemporary issue. Regardless, Ameren Missouri has already evaluated the broader market benefits of two-way flow on the GBX line as part of its analysis pursuant to the aforementioned stipulation and agreement and included in the Company's 2025 IRP Annual Update.
The PSC recently issued an order directing Ameren to consider the following contemporary and special issues:
1. Construction of a nuclear power plant
2. Large load customers (i.e. data centers)
3. Small modular nuclear reactors
4. Geologic Hydrogen Onsite or Near Natural Gas Storage
What's not included in this list? The Grain Belt Express suggestion that Ameren consider more issues related to its project. Looks like the PSC thinks there are better solutions to Ameren's needs than Grain Belt Express. Perhaps Ameren thinks that, too, but it's still got to do that analysis it agreed to in the prior settlement.
I think it's pretty clear... Grain Belt Express has jumped the shark. What may have sounded like a good idea 15 years ago when Grain Belt was originally proposed, and as recently as a couple years ago when the PSC approved the project, has been eclipsed by time and better ideas. Is this the reason that GBE doesn't have any customers? Despite GBE's bold statement that it was going to get "private financing" for its project, it's still struggling to find a way to make GBE a value proposition for utility customers in Missouri. Remember, a merchant transmission project like GBE is completely voluntary. Customers will only sign up if it provides some value to them. All these years, and only one customer... a collection of Missouri municipal utilities that were offered loss leader pricing if they signed up to be a potential customer ten years ago.
As well, it is unlikely that a bank, or other investor, would plunk down billions to build Grain Belt Express if it cannot find customers to create a revenue stream.
Time is never a friend to utility proposals that aren't needed. They are always obviated by better ideas. And it looks like the MO PSC isn't going out of its way to force a "need" for Grain Belt Express any longer. That's refreshing!
1. Construction of a nuclear power plant
2. Large load customers (i.e. data centers)
3. Small modular nuclear reactors
4. Geologic Hydrogen Onsite or Near Natural Gas Storage
What's not included in this list? The Grain Belt Express suggestion that Ameren consider more issues related to its project. Looks like the PSC thinks there are better solutions to Ameren's needs than Grain Belt Express. Perhaps Ameren thinks that, too, but it's still got to do that analysis it agreed to in the prior settlement.
I think it's pretty clear... Grain Belt Express has jumped the shark. What may have sounded like a good idea 15 years ago when Grain Belt was originally proposed, and as recently as a couple years ago when the PSC approved the project, has been eclipsed by time and better ideas. Is this the reason that GBE doesn't have any customers? Despite GBE's bold statement that it was going to get "private financing" for its project, it's still struggling to find a way to make GBE a value proposition for utility customers in Missouri. Remember, a merchant transmission project like GBE is completely voluntary. Customers will only sign up if it provides some value to them. All these years, and only one customer... a collection of Missouri municipal utilities that were offered loss leader pricing if they signed up to be a potential customer ten years ago.
As well, it is unlikely that a bank, or other investor, would plunk down billions to build Grain Belt Express if it cannot find customers to create a revenue stream.
Time is never a friend to utility proposals that aren't needed. They are always obviated by better ideas. And it looks like the MO PSC isn't going out of its way to force a "need" for Grain Belt Express any longer. That's refreshing!
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