About the project


The Duane Arnold Solar Project is an estimated 200-megawatt (MW) solar array located in Linn County, Iowa. The Duane Arnold Solar Project will connect into the electrical transmission grid directly through the substation formerly used for the retired nuclear-powered Duane Arnold Energy Center. Once complete, the project will positively impact the environment and generate enough clean, low-cost energy to power at least 40,000 homes annually.

Fast facts

  • Location: Linn County.
  • Acreage: Approximately 1,100 acres.
  • Timeline: We expect to begin construction in 2023 and finish by late 2024.

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Project updates


August 12, 2024

Crews continue to make solid progress on the first two phases of the Duane Arnold Solar Project. The first 50 MW is currently operating, while we're installing piles, the metal posts that support the panels, and our tracking system, which allows the panels to follow the sun from east to west daily. This newsletter also discusses solar production in the summer and agrivoltaics, the study of agriculture co-located with solar energy production.

Read further in our latest project update..pdf

Economic benefits


  • We project the Duane Arnold Solar Project will have a positive economic output of up to $260 million in the state of Iowa, including up to $154 million in Linn County. This takes into account the cumulative ripple effect of new jobs, wages, tax revenue and other economic activity during construction and through the life of the project.
  • Lease payments to the participating landowners will provide long-term, stable streams of income over the life of the project.
  • Replacement tax revenue, a state program determined by the generation output of the project, will provide annual payments to Linn County.

Environmental benefits


  • We’ll plant native grass and seed mixes around the solar panels and throughout the solar arrays that will help build soil nutrients and create pollinator-friendly habitat. Pollinator-friendly vegetation is proven to prevent soil erosion and add benefit to high-value crops.
  • The grass will mature in four years following construction. As it does, it will improve the quality and the ecological health of the watershed and surrounding bodies of water. The native plants reduce the nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, and biological oxygen demand that can lead to excess algae growth and habitat degradation.
  • Requiring only sunlight for fuel, the Wever Solar Project represents a long-term reduction of traditional fossil fuels for energy generation, contributing to a cleaner environment and clean energy future for Iowa and the Midwest.

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