Alliant Energy natural gas plant on line

Public utility company Alliant Energy brought a natural gas-fired power plant on line today in Wisconsin.

The 730MW West Riverside Energy Center is in service after nearly three years of construction in Beloit, Wisconsin. The facility was initially supposed to be brought on line in December, but operations were delayed during a final pipe cleaning.

With the gas plant now in service, Alliant Energy plans to construct a solar-powered facility adjacent to the Riverside Energy Center to integrate the fuel mix.

The West Riverside solar garden is expected to break ground soon and be completed by the end of the year. The 6MW solar field will offset power at the natural gas plant and increase the sustainability and efficiency of the West Riverside Energy Center, the company said.

Alliant Energy provides energy service to customers in Wisconsin and Iowa.

By Taylor Zavala