Engineering, procurement and construction firm Burns & McDonnell has completed work on the 150-MW Wever and 50-MW Creston solar projects in Iowa for Alliant Energy.
The projects utilize Canadian Solar 660-watt modules and will provide enough power for approximately 40,000 homes annually.
“These projects stand as a testament to Alliant Energy’s commitment to sustainability and our dedication to safety and resilience,” says Jami Stone, construction project manager at Burns & McDonnell. “With more than 326,000 hours worked and over 420 craft workers at peak construction, we’ve demonstrated that sustainability is about protecting both people and the planet.”
The majority of the workers were from local unions, demonstrating Burns & McDonnell’s commitment to support the communities where it works. Through apprenticeships and other on-the-job training, the projects narrowed the gap in skilled trades people, identified in Iowa recently.
The Wever solar project covers approximately 900 acres in Lee County. The project is located in a flood plain between the Skunk and Mississippi rivers and required planning and innovative solutions, including:
- Flood mitigation: A 500-year flood preparedness system with advanced drain tiles was installed to safeguard the environmentally sensitive site.
- Split-site coordination: The project was divided into two arrays, 90 MW and 60 MW, 4 miles apart, which required complex electrical integration.
- Future-ready design: The substation was designed with the flexibility to add battery energy storage in the future.
The Creston solar project in Union County dealt with uneven terrain and erosion risks near the Platte River. The Burns & McDonnell team used advanced erosion control methods and precise grading techniques to stabilize the site.
The two projects are expected to generate long-term economic and environmental advantages, including:
- Environmental stewardship: Native grasses and pollinator-friendly plants were seeded across the sites, enriching the soil, reducing erosion and supporting water quality improvement of local watersheds.
- Community engagement: Both projects supported local businesses, food banks and toy drives throughout the duration of the projects. Burns & McDonnell raised $30,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa and organized food and toy drives to support nearby communities.
The sites are submitted for third-party verification through the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s Envision framework and responses are expected in early 2025.
Burns & McDonnell not only served as the EPC contractor for both the projects but the firm’s Transmission & Distribution Group also lead the development of collector substation and gen-tie delivering megawatts to the grid.
