Company Pumps Brakes on Floyd County Wind Farm, Chickasaw Co. Acknowledges Transfer on Wind Permits

When Floyd County Supervisors began the process over two years ago to update the ordinance regulating construction of wind energy systems within County borders, two companies expressed interest in building wind farms of about 40 turbines each in western sections of the county.

At one time, proposed ordinance amendments, if approved, would have greatly limited Invenergy and/or NextEra Energy’s abilities to move forward with their development plans. That compelled Invenergy to advise the County they might consider legal action against the County if the ordinance passed.

By this January, amendments by Supervisors Gloria Carr and Frank Rottinghaus took the wind ordinance in the other direction and was approved 2-1, with Supervisor Boyd Campbell voting against it. Thus, it gave companies the greenlight to continue with their proposed wind farms.

However, during their regular meeting Tuesday (02.24), Carr said she was contacted last week by NextEra that they have changed plans.

Also this week, Chickasaw County Supervisors acknowledged that permits for the Chickasaw Wind Energy Center had recently been assigned to MidAmerican Energy. Though no official Board action was required, Chair Jacob Hackman asked for a vote to make the acknowledgement official.

The vote to acknowledge the permit transferred was approved 4-0, with Supervisor Issac Carter absent.  

Invenergy began development of The Chickasaw Wind Energy Center, consisting of 60 wind turbines north of New Hampton, in Spring 2023 and sold to MidAmerican in June 2023.

MidAmerican also owns the 50 wind turbines south of Charles City.