Burns & McDonnell is the EPC contractor and will perform self-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 put into use later this year.
Stacks on the Wever project
Burns & McDonnell provides fully integrated services for the projects. The company recently completed EPC and self-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,” said Jami Steen, construction project manager at Burns & McDonnell. “We look forward to building on this trust-based relationship to implement additional sustainable energy projects for them.”
AZCO, the union construction subsidiary of Burns & McDonnell, is handling the construction. The majority of the workforce will come from local trades, including carpenters, laborers, operators and electricians. The peak workforce is expected to reach 300 on the Wever project and 120 on the Creston project.
The value of an integrated approach is visible in the Wever project. Due to its location in a floodplain, additional planning, permitting and engineering solutions are involved. Designers worked with construction professionals to prepare for 500 years of flooding. 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 problems.
Other highlights of the project include the application of new and innovative technologies to streamline construction, making it more efficient and environmentally sustainable. The project team will also install 5km of underground cable to connect the AC collection system at the Wever site to the nearest existing electrical substation.
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