The proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center would serve customers by providing safe, reliable and flexible energy during periods of high demand.
Natural gas plays an important role in our balanced energy approach, working alongside renewable resources to deliver cost‑effective and dependable power.
Pending regulatory approval, we expect the Morgan Valley Energy Center to be operational in 2030.
Photo rendering is for illustrative purposes only. The final siting within the designated parcel will meet all regulatory requirements and is subject to approval.
We take environmental stewardship and community safety seriously. Advances in technology continue to reduce emissions from natural gas facilities. We're designing the Morgan Valley Energy Center with efficiency and modern controls in mind.
We have a strong track record meeting and exceeding regulatory requirements. We'll share these air-quality modeling studies here as we complete them.
We also intend the facility’s design and operations to minimize noise, traffic and water use. Even on its highest‑use days, water consumption would be significantly lower than common agricultural uses. This reflects our commitment to operating responsibly in the communities we serve.
Linn County is a natural fit for the Morgan Valley Energy Center. It sits near our largest load center in Iowa and has the existing infrastructure needed to support reliable, cost‑effective energy delivery. Proximity to the Cedar Rapids region allows us to strengthen the local grid, reduce transmission constraints and better serve customers where electricity demand is highest.
The Morgan Valley Energy Center would complement our existing investments in Linn County. These include the Cedar River Generating Station, Prairie Creek Generating Station, the Deer Run battery energy storage and Pleasant Creek Solar Project. We also maintain a strong local presence through our Cedar Rapids Operations Center.
During site selection, we evaluated multiple locations. We considered factors such as:
The proposed site in unincorporated Linn County meets all our criteria.
As with all major energy projects, local and state regulatory agencies will continue to review the location to ensure it's appropriate and in the public interest.
We’re a proven leader in safe, reliable and responsible energy solutions. If approved, Morgan Valley Energy Center will be another resource in our balanced approach to energy generation. This will help us deliver the energy our customers and communities need as demand continues to grow.
In addition to investing in gas-fired generation, we’re also one of the top five largest utility owners and operators of regulated wind in the United States and the largest owner and operator of solar in Wisconsin.
Natural gas is a flexible backup during periods of high demand. It complements our renewable investments to meet customers’ needs.
