Iowa’s Largest Solar Farm Powers 40,000 Homes

Linn County, Iowa, just became home to the state’s biggest solar farm, a 200-megawatt powerhouse named Pleasant Creek Solar. Alliant Energy flipped the switch on the full project in December, marking a major leap for clean energy in the region. Generating enough electricity to light up roughly 40,000 homes annually, this sprawling solar field is more than a technical feat—it’s a bold step toward a greener Iowa.

The project, previously called Duane Arnold Solar during its development, got its new name from a nearby lake tied to the now-closed Duane Arnold Energy Center, a former nuclear plant. It’s a poetic nod to the area’s past, reimagining a site once powered by nuclear energy as a hub for renewables. Developed by NextEra Energy Resources’ subsidiary, Duane Arnold Solar LLC, the site began with 50 megawatts in March 2024. The final 150 megawatts came online last month, cementing its place as Iowa’s solar heavyweight.

For Alliant Energy, Pleasant Creek Solar is part of a broader push into renewables. The utility now boasts 400 megawatts of solar capacity in Iowa, thanks to two other 2024 projects in Creston and Wever. Add in its 1,300 megawatts of wind power, and Alliant’s clean-energy portfolio is growing fast. Since 2022, the company has rolled out about 1,500 megawatts of utility-scale solar across Iowa and Wisconsin, enough to make any environmentalist do a double-take.

What does this mean for Iowa? Cleaner air, lower carbon emissions, and a stronger stake in the renewable energy race. Pleasant Creek Solar isn’t just powering homes—it’s fueling hope for a sustainable future. As Alliant continues to expand its green footprint, Iowa’s proving it can lead the charge in the Midwest’s energy transformation.