Floyd County Takes Another Step Towards Wind Ordinance Update

The Floyd County Board of Supervisors took another step towards updating the County’s ordinance regarding the construction of wind turbine farms.

In August, Supervisors heard from NextEra and Invenergy on projects to build about 170 wind turbines combined in areas from Rudd and Floyd south towards Marble Rock and Rockford.

During their regular meeting Monday (11.06) , Supervisor Chair Mark Kuhn noted that played a role in advancing the wind ordinance update..

To help in the ordinance update, the Board voted to hire the North Iowa Area Council of Governments (NIACOG) to assist the County and work with the County’s Planning and Zoning Commission. NIACOG’s John Robbins said that the process could take three to six months to complete

In the meantime, Supervisors have been asked by a group of concerned landowners to invoke a moratorium on any new wind turbine development projects. While not endorsing a moratorium, County Attorney Todd Prichard said the Board has the authority to do so, with the flexibility to adjust a moratorium as needed.

Isaac Lamppa with Invenergy lobbied Supervisors for an exemption with any moratorium.

Supervisors took no action on a moratorium on Monday, but will take up the issue again at their next board meeting.