One of the largest electric utilities in Illinois and Missouri has officially launched a large-scale solar initiative. Ameren Corporation will begin by installing solar panels at two sites, one at the headquarters in St Louis and one at an existing Ameren Illinois Utilities facility. But these systems will be small potatoes in comparison to the plans Ameren has in mind if the first phase of planning and design produces viable large-scale solar projects, and if these pilot projects show promise, according to the press release. Designs for projects will be completed by April, and phase one installation should be complete by fall 2010.

“At these sites, we will be able to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiencies of specific types of solar systems in this region,” added (CEO Thomas R.] Voss, who announced the initiative at a 10:30 a.m. media briefing [yesterday]. “After the systems become operational, we will begin offering a range of online information about our findings from the project — information that should help customers in their own evaluations of different types of solar systems.”

Ameren’s interest in solar is not just at the corporate level. AmerenUE will be offering solar rebates to residential and commercial customers who install solar systems beginning in 2010. (For Illinois customers, it is not clear if this will be offered as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, the statewide solar rebate that provides 30 percent of system costs.) The company has also been busy buying renewable energy credits (RECs), wind power for its Missouri portfolio, providing systems to allow its customers to support renewables with surcharges on their electric bills, and pursuing a new waste-to-energy plant in Missouri.