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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Alliant Energy debuted a new $5 million Ottumwa Operations Center at a ribbon cutting Friday morning.

Construction on the facility began in July 2011 and was completed last month. Upgraded from what employees jokingly called a "double wide", the building has over 22,000 square feet to house its 28 employees, trucks and equipment. It contains an office space, warehouse, fleet shop, garage and electric meter shop.

"This provides us with years to come, an ability to serve this particular area," said Tom Aller, President of Interstate Power and Light. "We've got some extra land here so if there's expansion and things in the future, it should serve us well, so we'll be here for a long time."

The new facility is just another building in the Ottumwa area that is environmentally conscious. The building and site are designed and constructed with LEED requirements, and both the building and site are expected to achieve a LEED Gold rating.

""We're just really proud to be able to invest in the community and this part of our state," Aller said. "It'll help us serve about 65,000 electric and gas customers here."

For more information on LEED requirements for commercial properties, visit the U.S. Green Building Council's website.