Iowa’s new biggest solar field is now online: a 200-megawatt (MW) solar facility in Linn County, Iowa is now generating energy for Alliant Energy customers.
Alliant Energy also announced the site is being renamed to Pleasant Creek Solar after being known as Duane Arnold Solar during development and construction.
The 200-MW Pleasant Creek Solar facility is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 40,000 homes annually. Combined with the Creston and Wever solar projects which Alliant Energy placed into service in 2024, the energy company is now using solar to generate 400 MW of new solar energy resources in Iowa. These solar projects join the approximately 1,300 MW of wind resources Alliant Energy owns and operates 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. “The new name – Pleasant Creek Solar – 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 generating plant.”
The project in Linn County – now owned by Alliant Energy – was developed by Duane Arnold Solar, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources. Construction was completed in two phases. The first 50 MW began operating in March 2024 while the remaining 150 MW was placed into service in December 2024.
“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.”
Alliant Energy has added approximately 1,500 MW of utility-scale solar energy resources across Iowa and Wisconsin since 2022.
Originally published in Factor This Power Engineering.
