Ameren Missouri plans to invest $5.3 billion on more than 2,000 infrastructure improvement projects across its service area over the next five years.

The Smart Energy Plan includes deployment of new technologies to develop self-healing power lines; installation of infrastructure specially fortified to withstand severe weather, and creation of a pilot portfolio to test microgrid and other technologies, reports T&D World.

The utility also plans to increase its generation capacity through the addition of at least 700 MW of wind generation by 2020, and 100 MW of solar generation by 2027.

Ameren's grid modernization program comes as utilities around the country seek to incorporate new technologies and revise their existing business models.

Source: T&D World