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    Alliant Energy, Burns & McDonnell complete 50-MW Bear Creek Solar project in Wisconsin

    Aug. 24, 2022
    Alliant Energy plans to move away completely away from its coal-fired generation fleet by 2040 and be carbon-neutral within 10 years later. The utility plans to construct another 1,000 MW of utility-scale solar at 12 sites across Wisconsin
    Image credit Alliant Energy
    Alliant Solar 63064a63dd70d

    Midwestern U.S. utility Alliant Energy has completed one of its biggest renewable power projects to date.

    The 50-MW Bear Creek Solar Project is now operational in Richland County, Wisconsin. All 122,595 solar panels are now in place on the tracking systems,

    Bear Creek can produce enough electricity to satisfy consumption in approximately 13,000 homes.

    A shared revenue program between Alliant, Richland County and the town of Buena Vista could return close to $200,000 in payments to the communities annually for the next 30 years.

    “This project represents a significant, long-term investment in our community,” Van Nelson, Buena Vista Town Clerk, said. “The township very much appreciated how well they were kept informed of progress throughout the project.”

    Alliant Energy plans to move away completely away from its coal-fired generation fleet by 2040 and be carbon-neutral within 10 years later. The utility plans to construct another 1,000 MW of utility-scale solar at 12 sites across Wisconsin.

    “This project is an incredible milestone for our customers,” David de Leon, Alliant’s Wisconsin president, said in a statement. “Guided by our purpose-driven strategy to serve customers and build stronger communities, this solar farm diversifies our energy portfolio, boosts American energy independence and increases access to affordable electricity.”

    Construction the Bear Creek solar farm began in July 2021. Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell was the engineering, procurement and construction main contractor on the work.

    Alliant Energy is also developing non-utility-scaled energy projects within its service territories, including microgrids and community solar.

    About the Author

    Rod Walton, EnergyTech Managing Editor | Senior Editor

    For EnergyTech editorial inquiries, please contact Managing Editor Rod Walton at [email protected].

    Rod Walton has spent 15 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. He formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    Walton earned his Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

    He was named Managing Editor for Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech starting July 1, 2023

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.

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