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Wind Power News: Iowa
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to provide information about industrial wind energy development to readers seeking such information. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the credited organizations or individuals and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Iowa Supreme Court overturns decision in Worth County wind turbine moratorium battle
The Iowa Supreme Court on a six-to-one vote has reversed a Worth County district court judge’s decision that allowed a company to proceed with their wind energy project despite a moratorium on development in the county. Worthwhile Wind had started development of a $7 million wind turbine project prior to the Worth County Board of Supervisors enacting a moratorium in 2021, with an ordinance on wind energy development being approved by the board in 2022 that brought the project to . . . Complete story »
Clinton County sued by landowners over wind turbine restrictions
A group of landowners has filed a lawsuit against the Clinton County Board of Supervisors, arguing that recent zoning changes make commercial wind turbine development nearly impossible. The lawsuit challenges amendments approved in December 2025 to the county’s commercial wind energy ordinance. According to the filing, the landowners say the new rules require turbine setbacks of up to 10 miles from the Mississippi River and five miles from the Wapsipinicon River, with no exceptions allowed. Additional setbacks from wetlands, conservation . . . Complete story »
MidAmerican Energy wind farm in Woodbury County will not proceed
In early 2024, it looked conceivable that a MidAmerican Energy wind farm in Woodbury County could become a reality. But now, that project has been killed by MidAmerican Energy, a county official reported on Tuesday. At the end of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors meeting, Chairman Dan Bittinger announced MidAmerican and also NextEra Energy will not proceed with projects for wind renewable energy. Over the months the wind farm was being pitched, Siouxland Public Media News spoke with supporters . . . Complete story »
Residents deliver 850-signature petition urging stricter wind-turbine setbacks and height limits
Residents deliver 850-signature petition urging stricter wind-turbine setbacks and height limits Brad Coates, a county resident, presented two petitions to the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on behalf of local residents, saying the combined petitions include 850 signatures (727 electronic and 123 collected by hand) and asking the board to adopt stricter standards for wind turbines in the county ordinance. Coates said the first petition, submitted in June, sought a two-year moratorium on wind development; the second petition, handed . . . Complete story »
County extends wind energy moratorium
The Clinton County Board of Supervisors on Monday again extended a moratorium that wind energy proponents say has effectively frozen development. Despite saying they want the year-long zoning ordinance revision process to end as soon as possible, Supervisors Erin George and Jim Irwin voted to add three more months to the moratorium on zoning change requests for utility-scale wind energy installations, with the option for three more. “I am committed to getting this done prior to that,” George said. “Absolutely,” . . . Complete story »
Landowners seek to stop wind farm
Opponents of a massive wind farm granted a permit by the Dickinson County Board of Adjustment vowed to continue the fight. They have hired Des Moines lawyers to try blocking construction. Attorneys David Fautsch and Elisabeth Tursi have filed a motion with the court in Dickinson County. The plaintiffs are listed as landowners Kristine Van Kleek, Aaron Janssen, the Sidles Family Trust; and are joined in the petition by the group calling itself Dickinson County Concerned Citizens – all who . . . Complete story »
Dickinson County, IA supervisors to once again consider wind turbine moratorium
A reworded moratorium on any new wind turbines in Dickinson County, Iowa, is expected to come before the board of supervisors at their meeting Tuesday, May 27. The supervisors, a couple of weeks ago, tabled consideration of a proposed 6-year moratorium with a couple of them expressing concern over what they said was ambiguous wording. According to KUOO Radio, opponents of the moratorium at that time expressed concern that it could also apply to other types of renewable energy projects, . . . Complete story »
Clinton County closer to new wind turbine rules
Clinton County, Iowa’s planning and zoning commission approved changes to the existing ordinance. Those changes would increase the setback for any new turbines to be about 2,500 feet from a property line, which is about double the current setback. No wind turbines could be built within ten miles of the Mississippi River or within five miles from the Wapsipinicon River. There would also be a two-mile setback requirement from any city border within Clinton County. The changes now go to . . . Complete story »
Henry County to hold first reading of revised alternative energy ordinance
After more than a year of debate and revisions, county supervisors will hold the first of three readings Thursday on a proposed ordinance that could set new rules for wind and solar development. After three additional public hearings discussing changes to the Henry County Alternative Energy Overlay District in the county’s code of ordinances, the Board of Supervisors will hold the first of three readings for a new proposed Alternative Energy Overlay ordinance Thursday, May 8 at 9 a.m. In . . . Complete story »
Debate over 67 wind turbines continues in Dickinson County
The Dickinson County Board of Adjustment held the second in a series of three public hearings on Invenergy’s ‘Red Rock Wind Energy Center. If approved, construction on 67 wind turbines in eastern Dickinson County could begin this year. The proposal announced on April 10th is a scaled down version of the original project. Red Rock officials say they took community concerns into consideration and eliminated 15 of the proposed wind turbines that would have had the greatest visual impact on . . . Complete story »
