Following three public meetings, the Linn County Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 to approve the rezoning applications for Duane Arnold Solar I LLC and the Duane Arnold Solar II LLC.
“Linn County is the leader in Iowa and the Midwest with our commitment to renewable energy sources by approving utility-scale solar arrays that will provide clean renewable energy, create new jobs, and place Linn County at the top of the list for companies looking to expand or locate in our region,” said Supervisor Ben Rogers.
“I’m disappointed that we couldn’t increase the setbacks to give the non-participating property owners a seat at the table for negotiations,” said Supervisor Louis Zumbach. “I also would have liked all recommendations from our County departments to be considered instead of just some, so we could have discussed a more detailed plan.”
Next steps for the project, involve Duane Arnold Solar LLC applying for building permits through Linn County Planning & Development before the start of construction. Once the permits are approved, construction on the utility-scale solar project can begin. The timeline for these next steps is determined by Duane Arnold Solar LLC.