Solar energy project meeting set for Thursday in Camanche - Quad Cities Regional Business Journal

Solar energy project meeting set for Thursday in Camanche

CAMANCHE, Iowa – A massive solar energy project is being considered for Clinton County. The public is invited to an information meeting on the project at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at the Camanche Community Center, 323 9th Ave.

The rebranded Iowa Utilities Commission has scheduled the meeting to discuss the proposed Rock Creek Solar project. The meeting is open to the public and will include project developers and representatives of the commission.

During a meeting at the Grow Clinton office last July, officials with NextEra Energy said the solar project will be placed on about 900 acres in Clinton County – in and around Camanche, west to Low Moor, and the northern part of the county.

It will consist of photovoltaic solar arrays capable of generating up to 150 megawatts of renewable energy. Only about one-third of the 900 acres will have rows of solar panels. The project investment, which will be at least $216 million, will generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, and generate about $9 million in tax revenues.

The project is expected to produce enough energy to power more than 30,000 homes.

Construction of the Rock Creek project is expected to begin late this year and be complete and operational by December 2026. More information on the project can be found here. The project also has a Facebook page

According to information from the IUC, Rock Creek Solar, LLC1 plans to file an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity with the Iowa Utilities Commission for permission to develop a clean renewable solar energy generation project in Clinton County. The IUC will decide whether to grant the certificate over the course of the proceedings before it.