A new agreement reached between Alliant Energy and the operator of Iowa’s only nuclear power plant will see the plant shut down five years earlier than first projected. NextEra Energy Resources spokesman, Peter Robbins, says the change came about as they looked at a new agreement with Alliant to purchase power from the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo.

Robbins says employees of the plant will have some decisions to make.

Robbins says Next-Era Energy Resources will invest approximately 650 million dollars in existing and new renewable generation across Iowa before the end of 2020. Alliant Energy says it will save customers nearly 300 million dollars in the next 21 years by switching away from the use of the nuclear power.