Alliant’s Bobcat Energy Center receives air permit

Construction underway on 720-megawatt gas-fired natural gas facility in Marshalltown

Alliant Energy received the final permits needed to move forward with construction of the Bobcat Energy Center in Marshalltown. The facility will be constructed on land adjacent to the company’s current 650-megawatt Marshalltown Generating Station.

The Bobcat Energy Center, a natural gas-fired combustion turbine facility, received the required air permit last week from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Iowa DNR issues air permits only if the applicant proves the facility will meet or exceed all applicable air quality standards designed to protect public health. Approval from the DNR follows the unanimous approval Alliant received for the project from the Iowa Utilities Commission in December.

"Reliable energy is the foundation for strong communities, economic growth and the opportunities that depend on both," said JP Brummond, vice president of generation. "As customer demand increases, projects like Bobcat Energy Center help position our region for the future by providing the resources needed to support continued growth and reliable service. The project reflects our commitment to customers, and the issued permits highlight our proven track record of meeting, and often exceeding, regulatory requirements."

Alliant expects the Bobcat Energy Center to provide “a significant economic boost” to the Marshalltown area. The company anticipates it will need up to 360 construction jobs to build the facility, along with up to 10 full-time positions to staff and maintain it once in operation.

The project earned broad bipartisan and community support throughout the regulatory process, including backing from local government, business and labor leaders, who highlighted the project as a model of company-community collaboration.

“With construction now underway, the Bobcat Energy Center is moving from a plan on paper to real activity in Marshalltown," said John Hall, president and CEO of the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re already seeing local restaurants and hotels feeling the impact of workers on the ground, and that kind of ripple effect is exactly what these projects generate for our community. Alliant Energy has shown a real commitment to Marshalltown throughout this process, and their investment here is a strong signal for our community’s future.”

Major construction and equipment installation activities are expected to progress for the next three years. The company anticipates commercial operation in 2029.

"This milestone represents years of planning, collaboration and hard work by employees across Alliant Energy," Brummond said. "As we execute our Energy Blueprint, projects like Bobcat help ensure we have the right resources in place to serve customers reliably today while preparing for the energy needs of tomorrow."