The Grinnell College solar array is part of the Grinnell Solar Park project. Alliant Energy collaborated with four Grinnell, Iowa community partners to develop the 5 megawatt (MW) Grinnell Solar Park through their Customer-Hosted Renewables program, which allows businesses and communities to host solar farms or battery storage systems on their land in exchange for monthly lease payments.

The solar park is located on a former brownfield site on Grinnell's west side, where the partners collaborated with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to restore the land. Native grasses were planted to control erosion, filter groundwater, and provide habitat for pollinators and birds.

The City of Grinnell subdivided this restored site and sold tracts to three other partners, including Grinnell College. Each partner owns their portion of the land within a single fenced area and leases it to Alliant Energy, which built individual solar arrays for each participant.

About Grinnell College

Founded in 1846, Grinnell College is a liberal arts and sciences college renowned for its open curriculum and excellent academic reputation. Grinnell consistently ranks among the top 10 liberal arts colleges nationwide, earning high marks for its classroom experience, undergraduate teaching, and value. The historic 120-acre campus, once a stop on the Underground Railroad, serves approximately 1,750 students in downtown Grinnell.

Specifications

System Size: 2.5 MW DC / 2 MW AC

Modules: (3,718) Canadian Solar CS7N-685TB-AG bifacial

Inverters: (8) Solectria XGI 250kW @ 600V

Electrical Interconnection: 24.9 kV line

Racking & Mounting: ground-mounted fixed-tilt @ 20°