NextEra Energy is one of the biggest names in the energy sector. Tracing its origins to the launch of Florida Power & Light Company in 1925, the company has grown to become the largest energy infrastructure builder in the country, with a presence in 49 states, representing 76 gigawatts of battery storage, solar, natural gas, nuclear, and wind. NextEra Energy’s subsidiary, NextEra Energy Resources, spans 41 states and has 42 gigawatts of generating capacity, in addition to building transmission infrastructure.
NextEra Energy is contributing to cheaper, more reliable energy for Americans across the country. The company maintains a diverse portfolio of energy sources “to offer customers the lowest bill possible,” with renewables accounting for 57%, natural gas 34%, nuclear 8%, and other resources 1%. “From keeping the lights on today to modernizing transmission networks and developing next-generation energy projects,” NextEra Energy Resources explains, it is “helping America achieve true energy dominance and independence… Every project we build strengthens America’s energy security and economic leadership.” In Iowa, for example, the upcoming Lake Mills Wind project will provide 320 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to Winnebago County, while the Rock Creek Solar project will provide 150 megawatts of solar energy and 100 megawatts of battery storage to Clinton County and the cities of Clinton and Camanche.
Photo Courtesy NextEra Energy Resources
These projects contribute to local economies in big ways. Over the past decade, NextEra Energy has invested $154 billion in local economies and paid approximately $8 billion in property taxes, which fund local schools, roads, other infrastructure, and emergency response services. Meanwhile, NextEra Energy Resources has struck deals with about 30,000 landowners, particularly in rural communities, offering them support from a dedicated team and stable compensation that they can reinvest in their operations. As Megan Murphy Salyer, a developer with NextEra, described this relationship: “You hear from the landowners who care deeply about the land. They’ve invested their lives in the land. They are the caretakers of it. Seeing them trust us to continue that role of caretaking in a way that provides them a stable income for generations and keep the land in the family is huge.”
In Iowa alone, NextEra Energy Resources has invested more than $3 billion since 1999, with $68 million in annual payroll impact, $11 million in annual property taxes, and $12 million in annual land payments. The upcoming Rock Creek Solar project represents an additional $320 million investment that will generate $11.6 million in tax revenue for Clinton County and the cities of Clinton and Camanche. The upcoming Lake Mills Wind project, meanwhile, will generate $200 million in tax revenue for Winnebago County, plus $180 million in landowner payments over its lifetime.
Additionally, over the next four years, NextEra Energy has plans to invest an additional $120 billion in America’s energy infrastructure. These investments will continue to “ripple through the economy, boosting local businesses in hospitality, transportation, and retail throughout both project development and operation,” the company wrote.
NextEra is also a vital local employer. As of the end of 2024, NextEra Energy employed more than 16,000 Americans. The Lake Mills Wind project, in particular, is creating up to 770 construction jobs, while the Rock Creek Solar project is creating up to 300. The company also invests in the future workforce by donating funds and tools, such as 3D printers and virtual reality technology, to community colleges through its STEM Classroom Makeover Grant.
Through its Renewable Energy Training (RET) initiative, meanwhile, it supports STEM programs and workshops for hundreds of students each year. For example, at Barstow College in Iowa, students can learn about a wide range of renewable technologies at a STEM camp. Internally, the Renewable Training Center in Iowa recorded more than 1,100 solar course completions last year alone. As David Smith, a member of the NextEra training team, summarized, “By encouraging our employees to push the boundaries of what’s possible, we tap into their creativity.”
Video Courtesy NextEra Energy Resources
These investments position America to excel across numerous industries. “As the nation faces surging electricity demand to foster technological innovation and power a resurgence in domestic manufacturing,” NextEra Energy Resources notes, “we’re building the infrastructure America needs to compete, grow and lead.”
NextEra Energy Resources is also at the forefront of innovation in new and important technologies. The company is planning to reopen the Duane Arnold Energy Center, the state’s sole nuclear power plant, which was shut down in 2020 after sustaining damage from a windstorm. Once operational, it will be a reliable, home-grown power source, generating 615 megawatts and providing electricity to American homes and businesses, reducing reliance on foreign energy imports. In partnership, Google entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement to buy this energy for its cloud and AI infrastructure in the state, with the remainder set to be purchased by the Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO). NextEra and Google also plan to explore more nuclear development across the country.
The economic impact cannot be understated here, either. Over the next 25 years, the center is expected to generate $9 billion in economic benefits for Linn County and the state, raise $75 million in taxes, and create 400 long-term jobs. As NextEra chairman and CEO John Ketchum reflected, “Google and NextEra Energy are answering the call of America’s golden age of power demand, creating thousands of jobs, strengthening Iowa’s economy, delivering long-term value to our shareholders and helping power America’s future through innovation and technology.”
Photo Courtesy NextEra Energy
