Big River Wind

Red tractor in a green farm field with wind turbines in the background under a cloudy sky, highlighting sustainable agriculture and clean energy.

AES’ Big River Wind project is a planned 140 MW wind energy project in Des Moines County, Iowa. We are committed to responsible clean energy development that creates long-term value and positive impact for both the environment and local communities.*

Read the Big River Wind fact sheet View the Big River Wind map

Project overview

140 MW wind energy

Enough clean energy to power 45,084 Iowa homes annually

Des Moines County, IA

Project details

Over 12,000 acres of privately-held agricultural land
AES will be the long-term owner and operator of the facility
At the end of the project's life, a decommissioning plan allows for the land to return to agricultural use or other uses consistent with land-use policies at the time

Project map

Expected project timeline

Development – Siting – Permitting 2024 – 2027
Construction 2028 – 2029
Operations 2029

Economic and environmental benefits

We believe in being a good neighbor, ensuring responsible clean energy development that benefits both the environment and local communities without burdening existing infrastructure.

Tens of millions of dollars

Expected to be generated in tax revenue for Des Moines County over the life of the project.

250 jobs

Expected to be created during peak construction

Clean energy benefits local communities

Long-term tax revenue to counties, towns and school districts
Job creation during construction and operation
Landowner income diversification, keeping land in the family
Local economic stimulus during construction
Affordable, reliable, locally produced clean energy
Improved air quality and reduced CO2 emissions
Social impact funding to area community organizations and non-profits
Non-permanent development and low-impact construction that ensures land can be sensitively restored to pre-project conditions at the end of the project’s life

AES Trip 4 Photos_Turbines_231030_JH-28.jpg

Best practices in responsible and sustainable development

At AES, safety is our highest priority, and we’ve focused on improving lives for more than 40 years. As a leading innovator in energy solutions, sustainability is core to both our strategy and our culture. We are committed to responsible land use and incorporating sustainable best practices into the entire project lifecycle, contributing to building a domestic circular renewables economy and reducing foreign dependence.

Environmental and technical studies

We conduct a series of studies that ensure our projects are thoughtfully and responsibly designed.

Preliminary avian use survey
Preliminary bat presence survey
Preliminary wind resource analysis
More surveys forthcoming

Partnering with communities for the future of energy

At AES, we understand that our success as a company is only as strong as our partnerships with the communities where we operate. That’s why we partner with communities, customers, state agencies, higher education, elected officials, and other key stakeholders to see how we can best work together to support sustainable social and economic development.