The Bobcat Energy Center, a natural gas-fired combustion turbine facility, received the required air permit last week from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Iowa DNR issues air permits only if the applicant proves the facility will meet or exceed all applicable air quality standards designed to protect public health. Approval from the DNR follows unanimous approval Alliant Energy received for the project from the Iowa Utilities Commission in December.
“Reliable energy is the foundation for strong communities, economic growth and the opportunities that depend on both,” said JP Brummond, vice president of generation. “As customer demand increases, projects like Bobcat Energy Center help position our region for the future by providing the resources needed to support continued growth and reliable service. The project reflects our commitment to customers, and the issued permits highlight our proven track record of meeting, and often exceeding, regulatory requirements.”
Economic impact
Alliant Energy expects the Bobcat Energy Center will provide a significant economic boost to the Marshalltown area. The company anticipates it will need up to 360 construction jobs to build the facility, along with up to 10 full-time positions to staff and maintain it once in operation.
The project earned broad bipartisan and community support throughout the regulatory process, including backing from local government, business and labor leaders who highlighted the project as a model of company-community collaboration.
"With construction now underway, the Bobcat Energy Center is moving from a plan on paper to real activity in Marshalltown,” said John Hall, president and CEO of the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce. "We're already seeing local restaurants and hotels feeling the impact of workers on the ground, and that kind of ripple effect is exactly what these projects generate for our community. Alliant Energy has shown a real commitment to Marshalltown throughout this process, and their investment here is a strong signal for our community's future."
Project timeline
Alliant Energy expects the project to progress through major construction and equipment installation activities for the next three years. The company anticipates commercial operation in 2029. Once operational, Bobcat Energy Center’s approximately 720 megawatts of generation capacity will help meet customer demand and deliver reliable energy service for years to come.
“This milestone represents years of planning, collaboration and hard work by employees across Alliant Energy,” Brummond said. “As we execute our Energy Blueprint, projects like Bobcat help ensure we have the right resources in place to serve customers reliably today while preparing for the energy needs of tomorrow.”
To learn more, visit Alliant Energy’s Bobcat Energy Center website.
About Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: LNT) provides regulated energy service to more than 1 million electric and 435,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy's mission is to deliver energy solutions and exceptional service customers and communities count on – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL) and Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL) are Alliant Energy's two wholly-owned subsidiaries. For more information, visit alliantenergy.com and follow Alliant Energy on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.