IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - A plan developed by MidAmerican Energy and Iowa City calls for using a portion of a city park for MidAmerican’s first solar energy project.
The Iowa City Council has scheduled a public hearing March 24 on leasing nearly 19 acres (7.7 hectares) at Waterworks Prairie Park to MidAmerican, which would install about 10,000 solar panels. The system is expected to generate three megawatts of energy that would be tied into the electric grid.
“This solar project alone will power the equivalent of about 580 average Iowa residences,” said Adam Jablonski, MidAmerican’s director of renewable energy development.
“We’re fairly new in regard to solar energy,” Jablonski told The Gazette. “The wind resource in Iowa is much better than the solar resource. But, solar is good, too. … It just makes sense, and this is something we can do to partner with the city to bring more renewable energy to our customers.”
The lease would run for 30 years and could be extended. The city would receive an annual payment starting at $13,440, and it would increase by 3% annually.
City Manager Geoff Fruin said the parcel can’t be developed and is planted with prairie species.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.