Alliant Energy said a 200-MW solar facility in Linn County, Iowa, was recently brought online. The Pleasant Creek Solar installation—renamed after being known as Duane Arnold Solar during development and construction—is the largest solar power installation built to date in the state.
Pleasant Creek Solar joins two other solar projects—Creston and Wever, which began operating last year—to provide Alliant Energy with 400 MW of solar power capacity in Iowa. Alliant also owns and operates about 1,300 MW of wind power in the state.
“Pleasant Creek Solar exemplifies our ‘all of the above’ energy strategy, resulting in cost-effective energy resources that increase reliability for customers,” said Mayuri Farlinger, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company and vice president of operations. “Our solar projects and energy system investments drive economic growth by attracting businesses to communities, creating jobs and boosting tax revenues.”
The Pleasant Creek Solar name pays homage to Pleasant Creek Lake, a man-made lake near the project site created when the Duane Arnold Energy Center was built. The lake served as an emergency water source for the state’s only nuclear power plant, which closed in 2020. The project in Linn County was developed by Duane Arnold Solar LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC.
“Pleasant Creek Solar is a testament to the positive impact that innovative renewable energy projects can have on local communities and the broader energy landscape,” said Jonas van Stappen, director of development for NextEra Energy Resources. “We are proud to have worked with Alliant Energy and the local community to bring this significant project to fruition. This collaboration underscores our commitment to advancing clean energy solutions and creating sustainable value for future generations.”
“We appreciate the partnership with NextEra Energy Resources, local officials and landowners to help us continue delivering safe, reliable energy to benefit our customers and the communities we serve,” said Farlinger. “It’s one more way we deliver on our purpose to serve customers and build stronger communities.”
Alliant Energy said the company has added about 1,500 MW of utility-scale solar energy resources across Iowa and Wisconsin since 2022.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
