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Alliant Energy files rezoning application for Morgan Valley Energy Center

The July 16 filing moves the proposed 720-megawatt gas plant near Highway 30 into Linn County's formal review process.

By Jordan BeckPublished Jul 20, 2026, 5:50 PM CT1 min read
TheCRPulseCITY HALLAlliant Energy files rezoningapplication for Morgan ValleyEnergy Center#alliant energy #rezoning

Alliant Energy filed a rezoning application with Linn County on July 16 for its proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center.

The site sits near the intersection of Highway 30 and Benton-Linn Road in western Linn County. The request seeks to change 160 acres from Agricultural to Exclusive Use-2 zoning to allow three natural gas combustion turbines that could generate about 720 megawatts according to the filing.

Abe Kellison, a local resident, questioned who would benefit. "So when people tell us this project will bring economic growth... that's a fair question I have to ask and I hope you ask... who's this growth for? Is it for us? Is it for Alliant?" he said.

The company has scheduled two open-house meetings for July 30 at noon and 5 p.m. at IBEW Local 405 as listed in the application documents.

The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Supervisors will now begin their review. Residents of Fairfax and nearby western Linn County communities will have the first formal chance to comment during that process.

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Sources

  1. 1.Alliant Energy files rezoning application for proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center — CBS2 Iowa (KGAN)
  2. 2.Alliant submits application for proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center — KCRG — News
  3. 3.Alliant submits application for proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center - KCRG — Google News — Cedar Rapids & Linn County
  4. 4.morgan valley energy center review continues following scheduling conference — KGAN CBS2 — Local News (page scrape)
  5. 5.Alliant Energy applies to county for electric plant approval — The Gazette — Local News
  6. 6.Alliant Energy proposes 720-MW gas plant near Cedar Rapids - KWWL — Google News — Cedar Rapids & Linn County
  7. 7.Alliant Energy applies to county for electric plant approval - thegazette.com — Google News — Cedar Rapids & Linn County
  8. 8.Alliant submits application for proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center - KCRG — Google News — Cedar Rapids & Linn County
  9. 9.Alliant asks Linn County to rezone ag land for power plant, mixed bag in federal research funding - thegazette.com — Google News — Cedar Rapids & Linn County

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