Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Ameren Corporation (Ameren) exhibits policy engagement that is broadly misaligned with policy pathways for delivering the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. The company appears to engage on US climate policy with mostly negative positions, with an advocacy presence at the federal level and in Illinois and Missouri. Although Ameren broadly supported the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits, it strategically opposed the Biden administration’s power plant carbon standards and its leadership continues to advocate for the long-term role of fossil gas. Subsidiary Ameren Illinois holds board-level membership to the American Gas Association, which strategically obstructs US climate policy.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Ameren appears to have limited top-line messaging on climate policy. In its 2023 CDP response, Ameren stated support for the 1.5°C target and the Paris Agreement. During an August 2024 earnings call, CEO Martin Lyons did not take a clear position on the Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Chevron doctrine, which may limit the authority of federal agencies in developing climate regulations.
Engagement with Climate-Related Policy: Ameren appears to engage on climate-related policies with a mix of positive and negative positions. At the federal level, former Executive Chairman Warner Baxter advocated for federal clean energy tax credits: according to an article by Daily Energy Insider, Baxter advocated for the tax credits while at the Edison Electric Institute's June 2022 annual conference, stating that they were “one of our top priorities to get across the finish line.”
At the state level, subsidiary Ameren Missouri has repeatedly opposed legislation to establish a community solar pilot programs, including April 2025 opposition to House Bill 2574, March 2025 opposition to House Bill 662, and March 2025 opposition to Senate Bill 386, following opposition to House Bill 2574 a year prior. In Illinois, subsidiary Ameren Illinois submitted comments in February 2025 and April 2024 to the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Future of Gas Proceeding that appeared to advocate for expanded energy efficiency measures.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Ameren demonstrates mostly negative positions on the transition of the energy mix, with an emphasis on promoting a long-term role for fossil gas. For example, former Executive Chairman Warner Baxter supported the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate investments while promoting a long-term role for fossil gas during the Edison Electric Institute’s annual Conference in June 2023. This advocacy for fossil gas is also evident in Ameren’s strategic opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s power plant carbon standards. The company repeatedly advocated against a stringent regulation for existing gas-fired power plants, including in May 2024 individual comments, joint comments with the Midwest Ozone Group, and joint comments with the Class of ’85 Regulatory Response Group. That same month, CEO Lyons emphasized concerns with the finalized rules for existing coal- and new gas-fired power plants during the company’s earnings call. Previously, Ameren submitted December 2023 comments, October 2023 comments, and August 2023 comments opposing the rules. At the state level, subsidiary Ameren Illinois has been advocating for a long-term role for fossil gas in the ongoing Illinois Future of Gas Proceeding. In at least eight different comments submitted between April 2024 and February 2025, the company emphasized concerns with reducing fossil gas in the state and advocated for “renewable natural gas” and other fuels, seemingly as an alternative to electrification. Ameren Illinois also registered in opposition to the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act in March 2025. Similarly, during a January 2025 committee hearing in Missouri, subsidiary Ameren Missouri registered in support of Senate Bill 4, which included certain cost recovery mechanisms for new fossil gas power plants, among other provisions.
Industry Association Governance: Ameren discloses its industry association memberships on its corporate website, but does not provide further details on each organization’s climate policy positions. The company does not appear to have published a review of its industry association memberships and climate policy engagement. Ameren’s former Executive Chairman Warner Baxter served as the 2022 Chair of the Board for the Edison Electric Institute, which engages on climate policy with a mix of positions and strategically opposed the Biden administration’s power plant carbon standards. Subsidiary Ameren Illinois is a board member of American Gas Association, which continues to obstruct climate policy and advocate for investments in fossil gas infrastructure. In early 2023, Ameren left the National Association of Manufacturers.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q3 2025.