Wind Power News: Iowa
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted 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.
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 »
Iowa farmer sues company, alleging three wind-turbine fires damaged his crops
A Cedar County farmer is suing a manufacturer of wind turbines, alleging three turbine fires scattered debris over hundreds of acres of land, damaging his crops. Alan Weets of Mechanicsville is suing the Chicago-based company Nordex USA, which does business as Acciona Windpower North America and Anchor Wind, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Weets alleges that in 2010, he entered into an agreement with Acciona that gave the company an easement on his property for . . . Complete story »
Video shows wind turbines demolished in central Iowa
The demolition of two wind turbines in Iowa’s Story County on Wednesday, March 12, was captured in spectacular video posted by the Story County Sheriff’s Office. Speaking to Storyful, SCSO Captain Nicholas Lennie said the sheriff’s office sent a drone team out to document the demolition, as is standard for any demolitions in the county, and to prepare in case local residents reported the collapses or any loud noises to authorities. “If you were in the Nevada area this afternoon . . . Complete story »
Bill to strip local control of wind turbine siting advances
Today, Senators Mike Klimesh, (R, Winneshiek County, District 32), Mike Bousselot (R, Polk County, District 21), and Izaah Knox (D, Polk County, District 17) all voted to unanimously ignore the overwhelming will of the citizens of Iowa and instead accept payouts from wind energy companies. After only 30 minutes of discussion, all three voted to move forward with an insanely irresponsible bill (SF-376) introduced by wind energy companies that strips all local control of siting of wind turbines in their . . . Complete story »
The State of Iowa is trying to force wind turbines down our throats again!
It looks like this site won’t be shutting down as soon as we thought it would. Just when we thought we were safe and we had won our nearly two year long battle (99% of which the community citizens paid for out of their own pockets) to get reasonable protections for non-participating landowners against encroachment of wind turbines on their land, these people are at it again, this time attacking us at the state level. Iowa Senate Bill SF 376, . . . Complete story »
Company executives fight lawsuit over junked wind-turbine blades
The top executives of a company accused of abandoning junked wind-turbine blades across Iowa say they shouldn’t be held liable for their companies’ actions. Last fall, the State of Iowa sued a Washington-state company and its executives for allegedly dumping tons of old wind-turbine blades around Iowa, in violation of the state’s solid-waste laws. The lawsuit alleges that for over seven years, Global Fiberglass Solutions failed to properly dispose of decommissioned wind-turbine blades and stockpiled them at multiple locations in . . . Complete story »
Washington County supervisors pass first reading of ordinance restricting wind turbines
It will be tougher to bring wind farms to rural Washington County if the board of supervisors continues to vote the way it did Tuesday on a new ordinance. The Washington County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the first reading of a wind energy ordinance this morning. The ordinance would restrict where wind turbines could be built and require a guarantee that new wind turbines would not impact the value of any property within two miles. It would also require . . . Complete story »
Iowa farmers share concerns about wind turbines as legislators continue wind energy push
All that’s left of Cedar County farmer Sally Freeman’s last wind turbine is fiberglass, wires and concrete after the company, Acciona, decided to take it down with explosives in November. Freeman said the turbine had been damaged after lightning strikes caused three fires. She said the operation to take it down left a big crater on her family’s farm. “Now it’s a matter of picking up the mess that’s here,” Freeman said. “And hopefully they actually clean up this mess, . . . Complete story »
Cedar Co. family in turmoil after explosive turbine demolition scatters debris across farm
A storm-damaged wind turbine in Cedar County, Iowa, was demolished with explosives Tuesday, leaving behind widespread debris that has sparked frustration and concerns from a local farmer. Sally Freeman, whose family owns the land where the turbine stood, has accused the wind turbine company responsible, Acciona, of mismanaging the process and leaving her land covered with potentially hazardous waste. The turbine, a concrete structure rendered inoperable after a lightning strike months ago, was brought down in a controlled explosion early . . . Complete story »
