MidAmerican Energy is proposing two new power generation projects in Iowa to ensure reliable, affordable electricity amid growing demand. The company filed plans Monday with the Iowa Utilities Commission to build a multi-site solar energy project that is expected to generate up to 800 megawatts of power. Additionally, MidAmerican plans to develop the Orient Energy Center, a 465-megawatt natural gas-fired facility in Adair County. President and CEO Kelcey Brown says, “We’re focused on ensuring our customers always have reliable power, no matter what’s going on with the weather. We’re always looking ahead, planning for decades in the future, to make sure we meet the needs of our customers in the most affordable and sustainable way.” The 2025 Solar Reliability Project will produce enough electricity to power 144,000 homes, with construction starting in 2027, pending regulatory approval. It is projected to provide $25 million in property tax revenue and $270 million in landowner lease payments over its operational lifetime. The Orient Energy Center, expected to be operational by 2028, would create 400 construction jobs and provide $7 million in property tax revenue. The announcement comes after a November 2024 report from MidAmerican that found natural gas and solar energy would be the most cost-effective short-term answer to forecasted energy shortfalls, with the long-term option being small modular nuclear reactor generation.
