MidAmerican Energy is planning two major energy projects to ensure reliable and affordable power as electricity demand grows. The company has filed plans with the Iowa Utilities Commission for an 800 MW solar project and a 465 MW natural gas plant in Adair County.
The 2025 Solar Reliability Project will add up to 800 megawatts (MW) of solar power across multiple Iowa sites, complementing MidAmerican’s wind energy fleet. Expected to be operational by 2028, it will generate enough power for 144,000 homes while contributing $25 million in property tax payments and $270 million in landowner lease payments over its lifespan.
“We’re focused on ensuring our customers always have reliable power, no matter what’s going on with the weather,” said Kelcey Brown, MidAmerican Energy president and CEO.
MidAmerican also proposes the Orient Energy Center, a 465 MW natural gas-fired plant in Adair County, set to begin operations in 2028. It will provide on-demand power during peak usage periods, create 400+ construction jobs, and contribute $7 million in property tax revenue. The facility will also add five high-paying skilled jobs, with salaries between $100,000 and $125,000.
“Adding a tried-and-true natural gas power plant to MidAmerican’s energy mix is an ‘all-of-the-above’ solution that ensures we maintain a reliable grid,” said Iowa Representative Ray “Bubba” Sorensen (R-Adair County).
MidAmerican’s resource evaluation study projects rising electricity demand and identifies solar and natural gas as key near-term solutions, with small modular nuclear reactors as a future option. Currently, MidAmerican’s Iowa electricity rates are 42% below the national average, and these projects aim to keep costs low while strengthening reliability.
Regulatory approval for the solar project is expected by August 2025, with construction beginning in 2026 and the natural gas plant launching in 2028.
