Alliant Energy Oak Hill Substation

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When Alliant Energy purchased a property in Cedar Rapids’ Oak Hill neighborhood in 2002, they planned to build a substation on the property and have it running within a few years. In 2003-04, Shive-Hattery assisted Alliant Energy with obtaining a conditional use plan which was required since the proposed substation was in a residential area.

However, the conditional use plan expired and the project was shelved for several years. In late 2012, Alliant Energy came to Shive-Hattery asking for new site concepts for the Oak Hill site. Alliant Energy applied for a new conditional use plan, due to neighborhood opposition this was tabled. A new design was created with an exterior fence and retaining wall, but the substation project was still contentious for the neighborhood.

After extensive coordination with Alliant Energy and the surrounding neighborhood, design moved forward. Construction began with the demolition of two houses next to the substation site in 2014-2015. After the first phase of the project was approved, the construction of a driveway began in the fall of 2016. In early 2017, the second phase of the project was approved and final site construction will be completed by the end of the year. The substation will become operational in 2018.

As a trusted advisor, Shive-Hattery was able to help Alliant Energy through neighborhood and City processes resulting in a functioning substation and site design in a challenging location. Alliant Energy will be able to provide reliable energy to the surrounding neighborhood and replace three older, smaller substations.