On December 22, 2020 the Board adopted a new zoning ordinance, Section 50.40, which was applicable to all wind farms located in the County. ...MEC felt that the new ordinances was unfair and would virtually halt any new construction of wind turbines, and on January 20, 2021, they filed suit against the Board arising out of their adoption of the new ordinance. Litigation remains pending in the Iowa District Count in and for Madison County. In an attempt to avoid litigation, lawyers from both sides have been working together on a settlement.
On December 22, 2020 the Board adopted a new zoning ordinance, Section 50.40, which was applicable to all wind farms located in the County. ...MEC felt that the new ordinances was unfair and would virtually halt any new construction of wind turbines, and on January 20, 2021, they filed suit against the Board arising out of their adoption of the new ordinance. Litigation remains pending in the Iowa District Count in and for Madison County. In an attempt to avoid litigation, lawyers from both sides have been working together on a settlement.
There will be a public hearing regarding the proposed wind turbine settlement between the Madison County Board of Supervisors and MidAmerican Energy Company (MEC) and ordinance repeal/change on Tuesday, February 1, at 6 p.m. at the Parish Hall at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1026 N. 8th Avenue in Winterset.
It’s been a long, winding road to get to this point for both the Board and MEC. MEC had been developing two wind farms in Madison and Adair Counties. Macksburg, in the south and Arbor Hill in the North, for several years. The Madison County Board of Adjustment issued MEC a permit for the development and operation of the Arbor Hill Wind Farm on July 3, 2018, pursuant to the then-existing Madison County Zoning Ordinance. Development of …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]There will be a public hearing regarding the proposed wind turbine settlement between the Madison County Board of Supervisors and MidAmerican Energy Company (MEC) and ordinance repeal/change on Tuesday, February 1, at 6 p.m. at the Parish Hall at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1026 N. 8th Avenue in Winterset.
It’s been a long, winding road to get to this point for both the Board and MEC. MEC had been developing two wind farms in Madison and Adair Counties. Macksburg, in the south and Arbor Hill in the North, for several years. The Madison County Board of Adjustment issued MEC a permit for the development and operation of the Arbor Hill Wind Farm on July 3, 2018, pursuant to the then-existing Madison County Zoning Ordinance. Development of the Arbor Hill Project was pending on December 22, 2020, with physical construction targeted to be completed in 2021. The Arbor Hill Project consists of 52 total permitted wind turbines.
On December 22, 2020 the Board adopted a new zoning ordinance, Section 50.40, which was applicable to all wind farms located in the County. The new ordinance changed many of the standards for the development of wind farms, including setback distances, noise, size, and various environmental effects.
MEC felt that the new ordinances was unfair and would virtually halt any new construction of wind turbines, and on January 20, 2021, they filed suit against the Board arising out of their adoption of the new ordinance. Litigation remains pending in the Iowa District Count in and for Madison County.
In an attempt to avoid litigation, lawyers from both sides have been working together on a settlement. Supervisor Heather Stancil of Earlham has been present during the negotiations, but not an active participant.
“I did not participate because, I’m like, ’I don’t want any. Why are we even talking about this?’” she said.
The settlement includes some concessions by MEC including not expanding the Macksburg project beyond the current number of 51 turbines (30 in Madison County) and reducing the number of planned 52 to 30 turbines in the Arbor Hill project.
But the fact remains that there would still be dozens of turbines close to Earlham – as close as a mile-and-a-half from city limits – and that’s a deal breaker for Stancil.
A vote on the settlement is expected at the Board meeting on February 8.
Everyone is encouraged to attend the public hearing. A link to the ordinances and the settlement can be found at madisoncounty.iowa.gov/offices/board-of-supervisors.