Conservation director to discuss wind turbine placement guidelines with energy companies
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Marshall County Conservation Board (MCCB) Director Emily Herring, received unanimous approval from the MCCB board of directors Monday afternoon to meet with three energy companies to discuss potential policies and guidelines for installation of wind turbines in the vicinity of county parks and recreation areas.
The three companies who will meet with Herring separately this month are Invenergy LLC of Chicago, Ill., Next Generation Energy of Lafayette, Colo. and Scout Energy Management LLC of Dallas, Texas.
Representatives of the three contacted Herring to schedule a meeting. Herring told the directors she will also meet with County Attorney Jordan Gaffney and County Zoning Administrator Tyler Kelley this week to "understand the legalities of the companies' request."
"I think we should meet with them [the companies] and see what they are thinking and have conversations," Herring said. "The companies are looking at installations in four to five years."
Discussion topics will include "setbacks"-- the minimum distance companies must maintain between county parks and wind turbines or other renewable energy facilities, such as battery storage sites and solar panels.
Other discussion topics will include proposed locations and the impact on wildlife and county recreational property. Herring said Scout had submitted information outlining the specific area they are considering installing renewable energy equipment.
Herring said Scout is interested in knowing the impact of their proposed project near the Iowa River bottom at 190th St. and Marsh Ave. on wildlife and recreational assets. The company also listed the French Grove area. The board discussed the item at length but took no action on establishing policy regarding setbacks or other items with the companies.
There was strong consensus among all the directors that Herring should meet with the companies to best understand their positions and report back to the board of directors.
"As we [the MCCB board] have said before, we are not against industry, but as we move forward, we must protect the taxpayers and analyze cost benefits," director Tom Deimerly said.
Rich Naughton is the chairman of the MCCB. The other directors are Steve Armstrong, Tina Nelson and Pam Peone.
The companies became interested when they learned Marshall County is in the process of drafting a new planning and zoning department policy on renewable energy projects. Additionally, renewable energy project developments are experiencing a boon in certain areas of the United States.
Iowa ranks second only to Texas on the number of wind turbines or "wind farms." There are two wind farms in Marshall County now - one is near Laurel and the second in Vienna township.
Both are owned by Mid-America Energy of Des Moines, and installed in 2013, according to the company's website. The company first met and then complied with regulations established by the Marshall County Board of Supervisors and next negotiated individual leases with property owners.
Wind turbine and other electricity-generating projects have proved to be a long-term asset for local governments tax bases as well as to property owners who lease their land to power companies. Many leases are for 50 years, according to Iowa State University (ISU) Extension officials. Highly paid and skilled construction jobs result from project installations. The ISU Extension office reported that some projects have led to the development of new or improved roadways benefiting farmers and area residents.
Planning and zoning director/weed commissioner Kelley is the project manager on revising the zoning ordinance.
He said the existing zoning ordinance is "outdated," as it was adopted several years ago.
He is collaborating with the supervisors, zoning commissioners, department heads, and the public in drafting a new policy.
The first work session was in July followed by a second in September. Both were held at the Marshall County Courthouse.
The inaugural July meeting was attended by members of the county's planning and zoning committee, county department heads, and the public. Representatives from the three energy companies attended the September meeting and had submitted written comments to Kelley, he said.
Also in attendance were supervisors Christian Goodman and Carol Hibbs along with members of the Zoning Commission.
Goodman and Hibbs previously told the T-R that they were pleased with the number of residents who attended the two public sessions and equally pleased with the questions they posed. The next commission work session on the revised renewable energy ordinance is 9 a.m., Nov. 17 at the Marshall County Courthouse.
The MCCB manages 37 parks, wildlife areas, and recreation sites along with three trails encompassing more than 3,000 to 4,000 acres.
For more information on the proposed revised zoning ordinance impact renewable energy projects, contact Kelley at 641-844-2707, or visit tkelley@marshallcountyia.us. For more information about MCCB contact Herring at 641-752-5490 or visit mccb@marshallcountyia.gov.