Linn supervisors approve second consideration of Duane Arnold Solar rezoning request

UPDATE: Rezoning requests for a pair of industrial-scale solar projects near the former Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo are now just one step away from final approval by the Linn County Board of Supervisors. After public comments from 34 speakers Tuesday night (Aug. 30) at the Palo Community Center, the Linn County Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 on the second consideration of rezoning requests from NextEra Energy for two large two large solar generation projects in the western portion of Linn County, dubbed Duane Arnold Solar I and II. The result was the same as the 2-1 vote Monday night (Aug. 29), which capped a five hour-plus public hearing and informational presentation, also at the Palo Community Center. In obth cases, supervisors Ben Rogers and Stacey Walker voted to approve the rezoning requests, while supervisor Louie Zumbach voted to deny. The proposal would change the zoning in the project areas from agricultural to agricultural with a renewable energy overlay. As he did at similar public meetings regarding Clenera’s planned solar installation near Coggon in northern Linn County – a project approved by the board in January – Mr. Zumbach at Monday’s meeting proposed a negotiable setback of up to 1,250 feet from neighboring landowners who aren’t participating in the project, saying the proposal would treat rural residents more fairly than the 300-foot setback in NextEra’s plans. The motion failed on a 2-1 vote. Mr. Zumbach also challenged the county’s evaluation of the both the Coggon and Duane Arnold Solar projects, asking county planning and zoning director Charlie Nichols if he felt the county had “followed the best process” in reviewing the proposals. “There have been bumps along the way in this process,” Mr. Nichols responded. “Do I think we’ve done it the best it could be done? No. I think we still have things to learn as we continue to work with these type of projects.” One more public meeting is scheduled to gather public input on the proposals and for the board to vote on the third and final consideration of the rezoning requests. That meeting is for Tuesday, Sept. 6 beginning at 6 p.m., also at the Palo Community Center.

Public comments address various aspects

Tuesday’s meeting brought comments from 34 attendees, many of whom had also commented at Monday’s public meeting. A couple of commenters asked that the two proposals be considered separately and that the board approve the Duane Arnold Solar I request first, so NextEra could prove their mettle before allowing them to proceed to Duane Arnold Solar II. “Don’t make this about another feather in your cap or another line on your resume,” said Mary Benton of Palo. The request to split the two proposals wasn’t addressed by the board. A number of commenters also said they felt the votes by Mr. Rogers and Mr. Walker failed to take the county’s rural interests into consideration.

Monday’s meeting began with nearly 50 people offering comments on various aspects of the plan, with topics ranging from environmental and safety concerns to impacts on property values, viewshed screening measures for residents near the project sites, and the appropriateness of using productive farmland for solar energy generation. Speakers were nearly evenly split between supporters and opponents of the project, and exchanges were contentious at times, as they were during the Coggon Solar review process. Jo Pearson of Marion said she felt renewable energy generation is critical to addressing global warming and climate change, and challenged audience members to “think outside the box” when assessing projects such as Duane Arnold Solar. “People need to reassess their objections and consider thinking about others for a change and not be so selfish about their minds and their futures,” Ms. Pearson said. “We need to become advocates for our world, not working against those who are proposing positive change by expanding the availability of clean and renewable energy.” Palo Mayor Eric Van Kerckhove talked to the board about the Palo City Council’s May 16 passage of a resolution opposing the Duane Arnold Solar projects based on five concerns, including impacts on neighboring property values, Palo’s reputation as a “gateway to the outdoors” and impeding the city’s future growth potential. “I heard you say before that you value and respect local leadership,” Mr. Van Kerchkove said, “and it is my hope that my comments, Palo’s resolution and our community’s collective voice have provided context, added value and ultimately make your job a little easier in the coming days.” At Tuesday’s meeting, Mr. Van Kerckhove noted that at his request, the Center Point City Council had also unanimously approved a resolution opposing the Duane Arnold Solar projects. “They are concerned that if the supervisors approve NextEra phase I and II, effectively cutting off Palo’s ability to grow, there will be nothing in the way of approving additional phases that present a similar or even greater challenge to Center Point,” he said. The meeting also included presentations on the project from Linn County Planning and Development Director Charlie Nichols and Duane Arnold Solar project director Kimberly Dickey. The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the project on a 4-3 vote July 28.

Project would be built in two phases

Under the plan, formalized in November 2021 in a filing with the Iowa Utilities Board, Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources – which announced plans for the solar installation on the Duane Arnold site in March 2021 and have dubbed the project Duane Arnold Solar, with an office already open in Palo – will develop and install 200 megawatts of solar generation and a 75-megawatt battery energy storage facility near the former Duane Arnold nuclear plant, which is no longer in operation and is in the midst of a 60-year decommissioning process.

If approved by the county, the project, with an estimated $700 million capital investment, would be constructed in two phases. Duane Arnold Solar I is a proposed 50-megawatt solar energy project on approximately 316 acres of agricultural land within an 857-acre area project site in Linn County, while Duane Arnold Solar II is a proposed 150-megawatt solar energy project and a 75-megawatt battery energy storage system on approximately 815 acres of largely agricultural land within a 1,780-acre area project site, also in Linn County. Once completed, ownership of both projects would be transferred to Alliant Energy, through its subsidiary Interstate Power & Light Company (IPL), for ongoing operation. If approved, the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and would make Alliant the largest combined solar and battery storage operator in the state. The project already has a leg up in the approval process. The Iowa Utilities Board in late July issued an order granting a request for waivers and certificates of public convenience, use and necessity for the Duane Arnold Solar. Under the order, the IUB will issue the certificates for the two projects if they’re approved by the county supervisors under the county’s utility-scale solar installation ordinance.