Alliant Energy launches strategy to add 400 MW of solar to Iowa's grid by 2023

• Alliant Energy introduced the Clean Energy Blueprint for Iowa, a course for accelerating its shift to cleaner energy for customers. The Blueprint outlines the company's plans to increase the use of renewable energies, including solar energy, include more battery storage space and build out the connected power network. The company's new roadmap likewise includes plans to discontinue coal generation in Lansing by the end of 2022 while transitioning their Burlington Generating Station to natural gas in 2021.

The Clean Energy Blueprint is part of the business's Powering What's Next plan, which is led by its Clean Energy Vision and purpose-driven technique to offer customers and build more powerful communities. Together, the near-term financial investments in the jobs detailed in the Blueprint will certainly help Iowa clients prevent greater than $300 million in expenses over the following 35 years.

" We continue to lead the way toward a tidy power future for our consumers," stated Alliant Energy chairman, head of state and CEO John Larsen. "Investing in renewable resource, like wind and also solar, benefits our customers, the areas we offer as well as the environment. Our Clean Energy Blueprint functions as a roadmap that develops new tasks for Iowans and also income possibilities for neighborhoods around the state, while we additionally offer reliable, sustainable power solutions for years to come."

A vital part of the Clean Energy Blueprint, which lines up with changing customer preferences for even more renewable energy, includes adding up to 400 MW of solar by 2023. Near-term financial investment in renewables develops long-term cost savings for customers. When the 400 MW of solar is combined with the virtually 1,300 MW of owned-and-operated wind and also the power produced by the company's existing solar farms in Dubuque, Marshalltown and Cedar Rapids, in addition to other sustainable sources, nearly 50% of Alliant Energy's Iowa generation portfolio will be from renewables.

With an eye toward adding to a healthier atmosphere, Alliant Energy plans to retire its 275-MW coal-fired Generating Station in Lansing by the end of 2022; last timing is subject to the MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc.) retirement procedure. This retired life enables the company to avoid significant financial investments that would certainly or else be required to comply with changing ecological policies. Furthermore, this activity positions Alliant Energy to achieve their just recently upgraded goals of 50% decrease in CO2 discharges by 2030 and also elimination of all coal from their generation fleet by 2040.

Under the plan, Alliant Energy will also transition the Burlington Generating Station from coal to gas in 2021. This activity makes certain the business maintains a diversified energy mix giving energy schedule and also dependability that enhances its wind and solar energy generation. Once full, the center will utilize less water and also have substantially minimized carbon exhausts.

" For decades, our workers have done an exceptional job preserving and also running our coal-fired nuclear power plant to deliver economical and also trusted energy for Iowans," stated Terry Kouba, head of state of Alliant Energy's Iowa energy company. "As we transition from coal towards a cleaner energy mix, our top priorities consist of taking care of our workers, producing brand-new neighborhood jobs and also bringing brand-new financial development opportunities to the neighborhoods we offer."

Throughout the shift at both nuclear power plant, Alliant Energy will supply occupation help to workers that are interested. This consists of individually coaching, tuition compensation and also other sources tailored toward the private and unique needs of each employee.

Along with looking after employees, Alliant Energy will certainly collaborate with the areas of Burlington as well as Lansing on the upcoming shifts. The business will additionally work closely with city and also area leaders in Lansing to establish the very best use of the site along with means to continue supporting the financial health and wellness of the neighborhood.

As part of its Blueprint, Alliant Energy is additionally checking out exactly how battery storage can improve dependability as well as expects to add up to 100 MW of distributed energy resources (such as area solar and also power storage space systems) by 2026. When made use of together with solar generation, battery storage acts as a "eco-friendly electron financial institution" developed to store excess power that's produced when the sunlight is most effective and after that release the energy, as needed.

" We are discovering battery storage space as a cost-effective option that satisfies our client's energy needs while also producing a linked energy network that totally realizes the value of combining these resources," added Kouba.

Just recently, the firm announced its Marshalltown battery is in operation. This complies with the battery installment near Wellman late in 2014 and the co-installation of battery storage that's underway in Decorah, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and also the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The firm is seamlessly linking customer-owned solar while maintaining dependable electric solution throughout the area.

The Blueprint also consists of a concentrate on providing power effectiveness programs to help consumers take care of long-lasting costs. A brand-new Smart Thermostat Demand Response program is developed to do simply that while also aiding consumers better manage their power expenses. With this sophisticated innovation, customers can manage how they maintain their houses comfortable-- throughout the most popular or coldest days of the year-- while likewise reducing their power consumption.

Alliant Energy is also offering customers, organizations as well as communities services to attain their clean, renewable energy objectives. Customers can:

• Construct and join a neighborhood solar job and also balance out approximately 100% of their energy use.
• Take part in a customer-hosted, utility-owned solar yard job, built by Alliant Energy on their roof or building to create power for the neighborhood.
• Partner with Alliant Energy to develop, own as well as maintain a committed solar website on their part and then redeem the power that's created at a gotten price.

Alliant Energy's Iowa Clean Energy Blueprint-- from solar energy to battery storage and also wise thermostats-- shows a commitment to the business's values to Do the right point and Care for others. The Blueprint additionally puts Alliant Energy on course to attain its new aspirational objective of attaining, by 2050, net-zero co2 (CO2) exhausts for the electrical power it creates.