CHARLES CITY – Representatives of Invenergy and the public had a recent opportunity to present information the Floyd county board of supervisors involving a possible $171 million wind energy investment in the community spanning decade.
According to the Floyd County Board of Supervisors and Zoning Commission Public Listening Session Minutes dated December 20, 2023, 1:00 p.m.:
The Floyd County Board of Supervisors and Zoning Commission jointly hosted a listening session in the Floyd County Courthouse EOC/Training Room for the purpose of the public to provide feedback regarding amendments to the Floyd County Zoning Ordinance with respect to minimum requirements related to utility-scale wind energy development and battery storage. Board members present include Supv Kuhn, Supv Keifer, and Supv Jorgensen; commissioners present include Dean Tjaden, Ben Rottinghaus, Pam Erbe-Lines, Guy Carpenter and Alison Staudt. John Robbins, North Iowa Area Council of Governments Senior Planner, represented the county to address potential changes to the ordinance.
Isaac Lamppa and Merlyn Bartz, Invenergy representatives, presented information on the Marble Ridge Wind Project and history of other Invenergy projects since 2003. Invenergy plans to invest up to $171 million in the community via tax revenue and payments to landowners over the life of the project, estimated to be 40 years. Approximately 30 to 50 turbines will provide 180 MW of power to approximately 52,000 American homes. Up to 300 jobs will be supported and up to eight full-time operations and maintenance staff. The project supports Iowa’s industry and energy independence with six cities in Iowa manufacturing wind turbine parts. Most of the turbines are made of steel and can be recycled and Fairfax, Iowa is recycling the fiberglass blades. The development process of voluntary wind easements, environmental studies, engineering work, due diligence studies, and permitting phase is 2023-2026, construction work completed in 2026 and turbines to be operational in 2027.
Lamppa explained various types and typical distances of setbacks from roads, microwave paths, railroads, pipelines, transmission lines, water features, environmental buffers, and commercial, industrial and public buildings and cemeteries. Maps of setbacks included the county’s existing property line setback of 690 feet and other setbacks. After current setbacks, the approximate 3,300 acres of participating land leave approximately 495 acres of buildable area. Chickasaw County’s Invenergy project setbacks compared to Floyd County’s current ordinance, would reduce the buildable area to approximately 206 acres. Should amendments to the county’s ordinance have stricter setbacks, it could hinder Invenergy’s decision to build in Floyd County.
Lamppa and Bartz addressed questions including increasing the depth to bury their lines under drainage tile, their responsibility to repair damaged tile lines, shadow flickering, turbine noise, ice buildup on turbines, Federal Aviation Administration light requirements, potential of MidAmercan Energy acquiring Invenergy’s turbines after completion of project, and decommissioning plans including recycling products, recommendations on the depth to remove concrete, and negotiating set-aside money to cover decommissioning.
Nextera Energy representatives were not present to present their project at the meeting.
The next public listening session is tentatively scheduled for January 11, 6 p.m. at the Fossil and Prairie Center. Robbins will coordinate utility companies/developers, such as Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy, as presenters for future workshop meetings.
