Burns & McDonnell to EPC two solar projects in Iowa for Alliant Energy

Burns & McDonnell is the EPC contractor and will be self-performing construction for two Alliant Energy solar projects in Iowa: the 150-MW Wever project in Lee County and the 50-MW Creston project in Union County. The projects are expected to be placed in service later this year.

Burns & McDonnell is providing fully integrated services for the projects. The company recently completed EPC and self-perform construction for nine of Alliant Energy’s solar projects in Wisconsin.

“We are excited to build on the momentum of the nine sites we successfully delivered for Alliant Energy in Wisconsin,” says Jami Stone, construction project manager at Burns & McDonnell. “We look forward to continuing to build on this trust-based relationship to implement additional renewable energy projects for them.”

AZCO, the union construction subsidiary of Burns & McDonnell, is performing the construction. The majority of the workforce will come from local trades, including carpenters, laborers, operators and electricians. Peak labor is expected to reach 300 on the Wever project and 120 on the Creston project.

The value of an integrated approach is visible on the Wever project. Because of its location in a flood plain, extra planning, permitting and engineered solutions have been involved. Designers collaborated with construction professionals to prepare for 500-year flood levels. Burns & McDonnell proactively designed and installed a drain tile system in-house to accommodate the environmentally sensitive area, reduce the risk of flooding and mitigate potential challenges.

Other project highlights include applying new and innovative technologies to streamline construction, making it more efficient and environmentally sustainable. The project team will also install 3 miles of underground cable to interconnect the AC collection system at the Wever site with the closest existing electrical substation.

News item from Burns & McDonnell