Burns & McDonnell has accomplished engineer-procure-construct (EPC) and self-perform development providers for 9 photo voltaic tasks throughout Wisconsin. The tasks — a part of Alliant Vitality’s Clear Vitality Blueprint — will energy roughly 170,000 properties of their first yr of manufacturing.
The 50-MW Bear Creek photo voltaic undertaking. Burns & McDonnell
Burns & McDonnell began development on these websites in 2021 with tasks accomplished in levels. All websites have been delivered on time amid COVID-19, labor and provide chain challenges which have troubled the business.
“Once you have a look at all that’s occurred within the photo voltaic business over the previous three to 4 years, it’s a major achievement to finish these tasks on schedule,” mentioned Chad Cotter, VP of photo voltaic development, Burns & McDonnell. “Having our EPC staff, self-perform crews, environmental and allowing specialists and substation and interconnection assist groups built-in with Alliant Vitality and the native union halls early within the undertaking was important to attaining certainty in consequence and delivering on time. However I feel most necessary was Alliant Vitality’s daring imaginative and prescient to maneuver ahead with these tasks regardless of the risky interval that paused many different tasks throughout the nation.”
The photo voltaic program employed over 1,300 craft staff. As a part of a dedication to assist the native employment base, an apprenticeship program was instituted by way of AZCO, the union development subsidiary of Burns & McDonnell. This system supplied field-based coaching and hands-on expertise within the trades for 230 apprentices working to turn into carpenters, electricians, laborers, operators and millwrights. Of the full craft workforce for this system, over 75% have been Wisconsin residents. Moreover, a number of excursions have been carried out for native highschool and secondary commerce faculty college students, emphasizing profession alternatives and pathways for coming into the trades.
“Working intently with Alliant Vitality, the native union halls and contractor companions, we have been capable of assist Alliant Vitality ship distinctive worth to prospects throughout Wisconsin whereas holding undertaking {dollars} in the neighborhood,” says Josh Ronk, development undertaking supervisor, AZCO. “When you’ll be able to practice craft and provides them the instruments and sources to proceed on to the following job web site, it’s fulfilling.”
Burns & McDonnell introduced the agency’s Blue Coronary heart Security Award to seven Wooden County Photo voltaic Challenge staff whose fast considering and CPR helped save the lifetime of an operator who skilled a coronary heart assault on the job web site.
“‘Everybody goes dwelling safer’ is the mentality we apply every day on these websites,” mentioned Seth Hanebutt, program supervisor, Burns & McDonnell.
From the outset, Alliant Vitality sought to develop and assemble these tasks in a means that will profit the surroundings. To do that, Burns & McDonnell labored with Alliant Vitality to comply with its Envision Sustainability Framework. The Bear Creek, Wooden County and North Rock websites have been awarded Platinum Envision ISI verification – the very best award stage – in recognition of their contributions to sustainable improvement and clear and renewable power. Certification functions for the opposite six websites are awaiting remaining choice.
“Planting native grasses and pollinator plant species permits the websites to function multiuse land, fostering biodiversity and supporting Alliant Vitality’s sustainability initiatives,” mentioned Allison Chapin, environmental undertaking supervisor, Burns & McDonnell.
9 greenfield substations have been additionally constructed throughout this undertaking, with six gen-tie traces consisting of roughly 8 miles of 69-kV and 138-kV transmission to get the ability to the grid. To alleviate provide chain points, the staff used short-term high-voltage gasoline circuit breakers decommissioned from an Alliant Vitality coal plant to take care of the undertaking schedule whereas ready for high-voltage gasoline circuit breakers to reach.
“Giant packages like this include giant challenges, and our built-in undertaking staff rose to satisfy them,” mentioned Josh Ahrens, supervisor of photo voltaic engineering, Burns & McDonnell. “By having engineering built-in inside our self-perform staff, we created efficiencies that helped us establish the important path and work collectively to satisfy the schedule whereas additionally permitting us to study from challenges that arose and construct a greater mousetrap for future tasks.”
The 9 photo voltaic services span practically 5,000 acres and collectively add 764 MW of photo voltaic capability to Alliant Vitality’s various technology portfolio:
- Albany Photo voltaic Challenge, a 50-MW web site.
- Bear Creek Photo voltaic Challenge, a 50-MW web site.
- Beaver Dam Photo voltaic Challenge, a 50-MW web site.
- Cassville Photo voltaic Challenge, a 50-MW web site.
- North Rock Photo voltaic Challenge, a 50-MW web site.
- Paddock Photo voltaic Challenge, a 65-MW web site.
- Springfield Photo voltaic Challenge, a 100-MW web site.
- Wautoma Photo voltaic Challenge, a 99-MW web site.
- Wooden County Photo voltaic Challenge, a 150-MW web site.
Information merchandise from Burns & McDonnell
