Alliant Energy to buy portion of solar/battery project from NextEra Energy

Alliant Energy Corp. plans to buy 200 MW of solar energy and 75 MW of battery storage from the two phases of the Duane Arnold Solar Project, which is being developed by subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources LLC.

This is part of Alliant Energy's plans to have 400 MW of solar generation in Iowa, and the company said Nov. 2 it has filed an application with the Iowa Utilities Board for the proposed acquisition.

Once the Duane Arnold project in Linn County, Iowa, becomes operational, which is expected by the end of 2024, Alliant Energy will own the project.

The estimated $700 million Duane Arnold project, presented to local landowners during a March 16 virtual meeting, would be by far the biggest solar complex in the state and is among the largest planned photovoltaic facilities in the country.

The solar and battery projects will also repurpose a portion of the land and infrastructure at the former Duane Arnold Energy Center (DAEC) nuclear plant, and will use existing transmission infrastructure on the site.

Alliant Energy expects to outline plans for the remaining 200 MW of solar power in Iowa at a future date. With the inclusion of the new projects to Alliant Energy's current 1,300 MW of wind energy capacity in Iowa, the company is expected to source 50% of its electricity from renewable resources by 2025.

A decision from the IUB is expected in the second half of 2022.

NextEra Energy Resources is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc.