Ameren Illinois to host open houses for transmission project in Grand Tower

Key Takeaways:

• The Grand Tower Crossing Project will improve energy reliability, increase transmission capacity, and support economic development in local communities.
• The project scope includes construction of an approximately 4-mile transmission line across the Mississippi River from Missouri to Illinois and related substation improvements.
• The project team is gathering public input on the project at open houses on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 in Grand Tower.

GRAND TOWER, Ill. (Nov. 13, 2026) - Ameren Illinois, in collaboration with Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI), is proposing the Grand Tower Crossing Project to improve energy reliability for local communities. The company will host open houses next week to gather public input:

• Tuesday, Nov. 17: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. at the Grand Tower Civic Center, 610 Front Street, Grand Tower, IL, 62942
• Wednesday, Nov. 18: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Grand Tower Civic Center, 610 Front Street, Grand Tower, IL, 62942

The Grand Tower Crossing Project includes the construction of a new, approximately 4-mile, 138 kilovolt (kV) transmission line to connect Citizens Electric's existing Wittenberg substation in Perry County, Missouri, across the Mississippi River to a new Jenkins substation near Ameren Illinois' existing Grand Tower substation in Jackson County, Illinois.

Ameren Illinois, ATXI and Citizens Electric Corporation will develop separate components of the project. Ameren Illinois is responsible for developing the Illinois portion of the new transmission line and river crossing and construction of the new Jenkins substation in Illinois. ATXI is responsible for developing the Missouri portion of the new transmission line and river crossing. Citizens Electric Corporation will expand the existing Wittenburg substation in Missouri.

Once placed in service, the project will improve energy reliability for the surrounding region and local communities. It will also increase transmission capacity to meet changing energy needs, provide access to a diverse mix of energy sources, and support economic development in the region.

Each open house session will include the same information and give residents the opportunity to provide input on the project's Preferred Route Corridor. All sessions are informal, with no set agenda or presentation. Attendees may come and go at their convenience during the two-hour window.

A virtual open house option and interactive map will also be available online starting on Nov. 17. The virtual option will feature a slide deck with project and routing details, along with the interactive map where comments can be added.

"Open houses are an important part of our routing process because we hear directly from the people who know these communities best," said Eric Paulek, project manager for the Grand Tower Crossing Project. "The feedback we receive from landowners, residents and other community members will help inform our evaluation as we work toward identifying a route for the project."

After completing a similar public engagement process in Missouri, ATXI received approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission to proceed with Missouri portion of the project earlier this year. Ameren Illinois will submit an application to the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2027 to proceed with the Illinois portion of the project.

The goal is to have the Grand Tower Crossing Project in service and providing benefits to the local community by the end of 2028. For more information visit Ameren.com/GrandTowerCrossing, email [email protected], or call the project hotline at 1.800.488.7119.

About Ameren Illinois

Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers throughout central and southern Illinois. Our service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles and our mission is to power the quality of life. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us at @AmerenIllinois or Facebook.com/AmerenIllinois.