A non-profit that represents Iowa businesses is raising concerns about Alliant Energy’s plans to build three new power plants. Interstate Power and Light Company — a subsidiary of Alliant Energy — has asked the Iowa Utilities Commission to give the go-ahead for construction of natural gas-fired plants in Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, and Cerro Gordo County. Iowa Business for Clean Energy Executive Director Bob Rafferty says these would be so-called “peaker” plants that are expensive to operate but can be ramped up quickly when demand spikes.
Rafferty cites federal data indicating plants that kick on during peak electric demand typically sit idle for over 90 percent of the year.
Rafferty says the amount of power that could be generated by the three plants seems far above what’s necessary for the size of Alliant’s current customer base. Rafferty suggests Alliant is building the plants because of already operating data centers or data centers they hope to attract to their territory.
Alliant currently provides power to nearly half a million residential, business and government customers. Aliant Energy says as energy demand grows across all the communities it serves, the utility must plant for and ensure all customers receive reliable, cost-effective energy service now and in the future. The company says existing customers will not pay for new large-energy-user growth and current electricity rates are set through the end of this decade.
