Cedar Rapids community solar garden begins operations

CEDAR RAPIDS — Alliant Energy’s Cedar Rapids Community Solar Garden is now operational, the company announced Tuesday.

At full capacity, the 18,000 solar blocks can generate 4.5 megawatts of energy, or enough to power about 3,600 homes, Alliant has said. It’s the company’s largest operational solar project so far in Iowa and its second operational community solar garden.

More than 300 customers have subscribed to the 250-watt solar blocks, which generate an average of 541 kilowatt-hours annually.

Anchor tenants include the city of Cedar Rapids, First Interstate Bank, Transamerica and AEGON Asset Management. An additional $250,000 worth of blocks were allotted to the Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity, which should receive $500,000-plus in bill credits over the life of the project. Residential customers make up most if not all of the remaining subscribers.

Subscribed customers will receive monthly energy credits on their electric bills, beginning at 5.59 cents per kilowatt-hour, for the 20-year life of the project. The company expects the credits will add up to about $30 per block per year.

“We’re excited about the reliability solar projects like this bring to the energy grid and customers by further diversifying our generation fleet with low-cost, clean energy as we continue to serve customers and build stronger communities,” said a statement from Mayuri Farlinger, vice president of customer and community engagement at Alliant.

The solar garden is north of the 1100 block of 33rd Avenue SW on Alliant-owned property in Cedar Rapids. The company began construction on the project in 2021 and announced it to the public in July 2022.

Although all the blocks have been taken, interested Alliant customers in Iowa can join a waitlist if any become available or if the company starts another project in the state: alliantenergy.com/cleanenergy/whatyoucando/communitysolar/communitysolarwaitlist.

Brittney J. Miller is the Energy & Environment Reporter for The Gazette and a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

Comments: (319) 398-8370; brittney.miller@thegazette.com