The $670-million West Riverside Energy Center (WREC) in Beloit, Wis., provides 730 MW of reliable power. This combined-cycle facility can ramp its output up and down quickly to deal with shortages or surpluses. The natural gas/steam combined cycle generation plant is part of Alliant Energy’s transition to replace all of the coal-fired power generation in its Wisconsin portfolio by the end of 2023 and to target net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. The plant uses two GE 7F.05 natural gas turbines and a GE D602 steam turbine. WREC is Alliant’s first Envision Platinum-verified project in Wisconsin.

Photo courtesy HDR

During operation, the plant may not exceed a 5-decibel rise above background noise at specific locations; AECOM had to build an earthen berm on the southern edge of the property to help mitigate noise concerns in downtown Beloit near the Illinois border. The team also enclosed the building, provided acoustical insulation on ductwork and installed silencers on the gas turbine inlet, exhaust stack and ventilation openings. Crews also procured low-noise transformers, added fire walls, designed the cooling tower with low-noise fans and placed shrouds over the transition from the heat recovery steam generator to the exhaust stack. Another complication was that the building wasn’t fully enclosed before the polar vortex of 2019 decided to check in early. Despite a foot of snow and negative 50-degree wind chills, construction moved forward.

Photo courtesy HDR