Alliant Energy’s Iowa operation has dropped a plan to ask customers to pay a premium for existing solar energy capacity after the plan was widely criticized. Instead, its Interstate Power and Light branch will come up with plans for community solar installations that will allow customers to invest and receive benefits, the Energy News Network reported. “They are looking at a potentially new solar resource based on customers subscribing, where there is actual economic benefit to the customers,” said Josh Mandelbaum, an attorney for the Environmental Law & Policy Center in Des Moines, who opposed the earlier plan. “The details will still matter, but they are making a good-faith effort to design a program that provides benefit,” he added.