Alliant Energy files plan for 400 MW solar, battery facility in Iowa
If a new filing from Alliant Energy is approved by the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB), it could lead to the largest solar and battery facility in the state — a 400 MW producing structure.
The first major step in Alliant’s Clean Energy Blueprint for the state, the facility could be operational by the end of 2024. The first portion of its offerings would come from acquisition of 200 MW of solar energy and 75 MW of battery energy storage from the Duane Arnold Solar Project. That project will be developed by subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, though once operational, it — and the larger proposed facility — will be owned and operated by Alliant.
“It’s part of our purpose-driven strategy of serving customers and building stronger communities,” Terry Kouba, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company, said. “Our plan also keeps customer affordability at the forefront. We are excited to transition land from the decommissioned nuclear facility into the largest solar and battery storage facility in Iowa.”
The addition will bring a more diverse mix of energy generation to the company’s offerings, as well as economic benefits to the region at large. Duane Arnold is expected to create up to 200 new construction jobs, for example, while both projects combined could bring in up to $260 million of economic output for Iowa through their operational lifespan, according to data from Strategic Economic Research. In Duane Arnold’s case, the new creation will also benefit from existing transmission infrastructure from a former nuclear energy facility, which it will use.
“We are very pleased to continue working with Alliant Energy and the community of Linn County, which we have been fortunate to serve for the past 15 years with the Duane Arnold Energy Center,” Matt Handel, senior vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources, said. “Duane Arnold Solar is an innovative project that pairs cost-effective, clean, renewable energy from the sun with battery energy storage technology – providing customers with more access to renewable energy over more hours of the day, even when the sun is not shining.”
While the remainder of Alliant’s 400 MW proposed offerings remains up in the air, the company noted it will outline them at a future date. This completed project could grant Alliant a gnarly 50 percent renewable mix with the company’s existing wind generation offerings. Kouba added that current plans leave the company on schedule to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions from electricity generation by 2050.
Meanwhile, a decision on the solar project from the IUB is expected in the second half of 2022.
