Wever Solar Project

September 9, 2024

We have installed the final solar panel at the Wever Solar Project, paving the way for testing and commissioning to take place over the next few months. Our latest construction newsletter highlights agrivoltaics, the study of agriculture paired with solar energy, solar production in the summer months, and common misconceptions about renewable energy. We expect to complete the Wever Solar Project by the end of the year.

Read further about the progress in our latest project update..pdf

• We expect the Wever Solar Project will generate over $3.6 million in local school district revenue, over $700,000 in total county property taxes for Lee County, and over $5.7 million in total property taxes over the life of the project.
• Project construction will create over 200 construction jobs in Lee County and approximately 700 construction jobs in the state of Iowa.
• Lease payments to the participating landowners will provide long-term, stable streams of income over the life of the project.
• Replacement tax revenue, a state program, will provide annual payments to Lee County based on the project’s generation output.

• We’ll plant native grass and seed mixes around the panels and throughout the solar arrays that will help build soil nutrients and create pollinator-friendly habitat. Pollinator-friendly vegetation is proven to prevent soil erosion and add benefit to high-value crops.
• The grass will mature in four years following construction. As it does, it will improve the water quality and ecological health of the watershed and surrounding bodies of water. The vegetation will reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and biological oxygen demand that leads to excess algae growth and habitat degradation.
• Requiring only sunlight for fuel, the Wever Solar Project represents a long-term reduction of traditional fossil fuels for energy generation, contributing to a cleaner environment and clean energy future for Iowa and the Midwest.