Burns & McDonnell has accomplished building of two photo voltaic vitality tasks for Alliant Vitality in Iowa — the 150-MW Wever photo voltaic undertaking and the 50-MW Creston photo voltaic undertaking.
“These tasks stand as a testomony to Alliant Vitality’s dedication to sustainability and our dedication to security and resilience,” says Jami Stone, building undertaking supervisor at Burns & McDonnell. “With greater than 326,000 hours labored and over 420 craft employees at peak building, we’ve demonstrated that sustainability is about defending each individuals and the planet.”
A good portion of the craftspeople got here from native unions, underscoring the dedication of Burns & McDonnell to supporting the communities the place it really works. By way of apprenticeships and different on-the-job coaching, the tasks narrowed the hole in expert tradespeople that had been recognized in Iowa lately.
“We’re extremely grateful to Alliant Vitality and the expert laborers, carpenters and electricians whose dedication, abilities and expertise made these tasks profitable,” Stone says.
Wever Photo voltaic Mission
Spanning roughly 900 acres in Lee County, the 150-MW Wever photo voltaic undertaking is considered one of Iowa’s largest photo voltaic installations. Situated in a flood plain between the Skunk and Mississippi rivers, the undertaking required meticulous planning and modern options, together with:
- Flood mitigation: A 500-year flood preparedness system with superior drain tiles was put in to safeguard the environmentally delicate web site.
- Cut up-site coordination: The undertaking was divided into two arrays — 90 MW and 60 MW — 4 miles aside, which required complicated electrical integration.
- Future-ready design: The substation was designed with the flexibleness so as to add battery vitality storage sooner or later.
Creston Photo voltaic Mission
The 50-MW Creston photo voltaic undertaking in Union County overcame challenges posed by uneven terrain and erosion dangers close to the Platte River. The Burns & McDonnell crew used superior erosion management strategies and exact grading methods to stabilize the location.
Financial and Environmental Advantages
The 2 tasks are anticipated to generate long-term financial and environmental benefits, together with:
- Environmental stewardship: Native grasses and pollinator-friendly vegetation had been seeded throughout the websites, enriching the soil, lowering erosion and supporting water high quality enchancment of native watersheds.
- Neighborhood engagement: Each tasks supported native companies, meals banks and toy drives all through the period of the tasks. Burns & McDonnell raised $30,000 for Boys & Women Golf equipment of Central Iowa and arranged meals and toy drives to assist close by communities.
“As we proceed to diversify our technology sources, the completion of those tasks means extra clear, fuel-free vitality for our clients,” stated Matt Cole, assistant vice chairman of operations options and companies at Alliant Vitality. “That is simply one other manner we ship on our function to serve clients and construct stronger communities.”
Each websites are being submitted for third-party verification by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s Envision framework, with responses anticipated in early 2025. The previous nine solar sites Burns & McDonnell constructed for Alliant Vitality, in Wisconsin, all had been designated Envision Platinum.
“From modern engineering to self-perform building, these tasks spotlight the worth of an built-in EPC strategy,” says Chad Cotter, vice chairman of photo voltaic at Burns & McDonnell. “We’re proud to have partnered with Alliant Vitality to set a brand new benchmark for clear vitality tasks in Iowa.”
Information merchandise from Burns & McDonnell
Trending Merchandise
