Wind Power News: Iowa
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch 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.
Page County Board of Supervisors proceed with wind turbine ordinance
CLARINDA – The Page County Board of Supervisors decided 1,500 feet is far enough. A month after two public hearings gathering comments and opinions about the county’s wind turbine ordinance, in which setback distances were a common theme, supervisors agreed Tuesday they won’t change the distance. “Sixteen-hundred feet setback is the most or companies won’t come in,” said Supervisor Jon Herzberg. Speculating wind turbines will be built in Page County, the supervisors approved a list of rules and regulations in October . . . Complete story »
Page County Supervisors leave wind turbine ordinance unchanged
(Clarinda) – After months of discussion and two public meetings, Page County’s Board of Supervisors has decided to leave the county wind turbine ordinance as is. Meeting at the county courthouse Tuesday morning, the supervisors took no action on the wind energy conversion system ordinance, opting instead to leave the current language intact. The decision comes after the supervisors held public meetings in both Clarinda and Shenandoah last month to gather feedback on wind turbines in the county. Much of the . . . Complete story »
Page County Supervisors consider wind turbine amendment Tuesday
(Clarinda) – Changes could be coming to Page County’s wind turbine ordinance. The Page County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to consider an amendment to the county’s wind energy conversion system ordinance at its regular meeting Tuesday morning at the county courthouse. The proposed amendment comes after the supervisors held two public meetings last month – one in Clarinda and one in Shenandoah – to gather public input on wind turbines. At the first meeting, Supervisor Alan Armstrong said the board was trying . . . Complete story »
Iowa Farm Bureau backs statewide regulations that guide wind, solar construction
Iowa’s largest farm group is calling for statewide regulations that guide where large-scale wind and solar farms can be built, as members raise concerns about the loss of valuable farmland to renewable energy projects. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation says it backs statewide “siting and setback rules for wind and solar farms,” given the rapid growth of wind and solar energy projects in Iowa. The legislative priority could pit the politically powerful ag group against formidable energy companies, including investor-owned MidAmerican . . . Complete story »
In Iowa, clean energy advocates hope solar will complement wind farms
Invenergy recently broke ground on three large solar projects totaling 750 megawatts near the Iowa-Minnesota border. Iowa has long been one of the nation’s leading producers of electricity from wind. Now, the state appears ready to take a great leap forward with utility-scale solar. Invenergy, a major developer of large renewable generation projects nationwide, began construction in December on three solar arrays with a total capacity of 750 megawatts. It may at some point add three batteries with a capacity . . . Complete story »
In southwest Iowa county, a divide over wind turbines on farmland
CLARINDA – Some of what is known about wind turbines in Page County is on paper. What isn’t fully known is how development of wind turbines will impact the people and area. The Page County Board of Supervisors held town-hall style meetings on Dec. 16 at the courthouse in Clarinda and on Dec. 18 at the Shenandoah Fire Department, getting opinions and comments from the public about having wind turbines in the area. In October, the board approved ordinances related to . . . Complete story »
Watch out for energy easements
Recently, on a warm fall day, I stopped at my 77-year-old father-in-law’s farmhouse because he was meeting with a salesman for the fourth time regarding a transmission line easement. I walked into his sunporch to find four men with the sole purpose of persuading him to sign. Weeks later, he had to chase off surveyors who were trespassing on his property. Stories of wind salesmen tell us that they manipulate retirees with phrases such as, “you’ll leave a ‘green’ legacy,” . . . Complete story »
Page County debates wind turbine regulation
Leaders in southwest Iowa’s Page County held two public hearings this week to gather residents’ comments on wind power, whether to allow more wind turbines to be built or to enact tighter regulations on the turbines. County Supervisor Chuck Morris says the purpose of the meetings is to find a way to balance property rights with economic opportunities. “Our intent in having an ordinance is to protect people,” Morris says. “I’m proud of that fact. Is it perfect? No, that’s . . . Complete story »
Tilting at wind turbines
The four-year-old granddaughter of Sara Tessmer recently remarked as she was riding in the car at night with her grandmother up in northwest Madison County. “Look at all the angels.” “It just about broke my heart,” Tessmer, a self-described “mom, grandmother and Minnesota transplant” told a crowded Earlham community center audience Monday. The little one was reflecting on what she was seeing through her young eyes. The remarks came as more than 70 people gathered at the first of three . . . Complete story »
Madison County at a crossroads
As a nation and as a people, we thirst for electric energy. We are transitioning quickly to a global economy while responding to the serious threat of climate change. As a practicing cardiovascular sub-specialist physician for 33 years, through the last 17 months I have struggled to understand the “best approximation of truth” concerning potential adverse health effects related to exposure to industrial wind turbines. We are an over-committed, sleep-deprived nation with increasing cardiovascular risk factors. A major decision about . . . Complete story »
