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Economic Benefits from Duane Arnold Solar:

$154 million in economic boost for THE county

Create 200 construction jobs

Attract new employers looking for access to renewable energy

$7.8 million in property taxes

Advance energy independence from homegrown solar energy that supports an all-of-the-above energy policy

The proposed Duane Arnold Solar Farm

Energy from the Duane Arnold Solar Farm would go to Alliant Energy and power Iowa homes.

The solar farm would be developed on land voluntarily and temporarily leased by the owner.

The solar farm would have a footprint of .37% of total farmland in Linn County and less than .0004% of all Iowa farmland.

The solar company is responsible for decommissioning and returning the land to the same or better condition when the solar project is complete.

Clean energy from Duane Arnold Solar will reduce 5.4 million metric tons of C02 emissions compared to natural gas plant, or 12.63 million metric tons of CO2 compared to a coal plant.

The project will be built on an old nuclear facility that still has a functioning substation and transmission lines which means that minimal new infrastructure will be required, meaning lower costs and less disruptions for people living near the solar farm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Benefit to Farmers

Many farmers who lease a portion of their land to solar companies are provided with financial security. This allows them to continue to farm the rest of their land and keep the land in their families.

Solar panels are solid

Solar panels are solid and sealed and cannot be penetrated by rainwater. In the same way the screens on the smartphones we carry with us all the time do not leak, solar panels do not leach.

Soil preservation

Proper soil management during the project contributes to agricultural sustainability. Farmers can resume planting crops after decommissioning if they choose.

Solar panels are safe for the enviroment

As the Sierra Club states: Solar power “has no carbon emissions and NO other harmful toxic emissions, including mercury, lead and cadmium.”

No taxpayer money needed

The construction of solar farms in Linn County is not funded by the government or taxpayers, but rather private companies making an investment in solar energy. No local tax dollars will be used to build these projects

Using existing infrastructure

The Duane Arnold Solar Farm will be built on an old nuclear energy facility that still has a functioning substation and transmission lines, which means that minimal new infrastructure will be required, resulting in lower costs and less disruptions for people living near the solar farm.

Protecting the land

The developers have plans to control erosion and runoff by adding vegetation around the panels, as well as beautify the site with natural buffers. They’ve also set aside money to restore the land to the same or better condition it was in before, after the solar farm lease ends so the farmer can resume crop farming, if they wish.