Alliant Energy has announced that its 200-megawatt (MW) Pleasant Creek Solar project in Linn County, Iowa, is now generating energy. The facility, previously known as Duane Arnold Solar, is described by the company as the state’s largest solar installation to date.

According to Alliant Energy, the solar site is expected to produce enough electricity to power around 40,000 homes annually. The company also stated that Pleasant Creek Solar brings its total solar capacity in Iowa to 400 MW, when combined with the Creston and Wever projects that entered service in 2024.

The project was developed by Duane Arnold Solar, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, and acquired by Alliant Energy. Construction occurred in two phases, with 50 MW reportedly beginning operation in March 2024 and the remaining 150 MW in December 2024.

The new name, Pleasant Creek Solar, is a reference to Pleasant Creek Lake, a reservoir originally created during the development of the Duane Arnold Energy Center.

Mayuri Farlinger, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy division, said the project reflects an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy focused on reliability and cost-effectiveness. Jonas van Stappen, director of development for NextEra Energy Resources, called the project a testament to collaboration and the long-term value of clean energy development.

The company reports it has added approximately 1,500 MW of utility-scale solar across Iowa and Wisconsin since 2022.