Des Moines County extends moratorium on commercial wind projects through Oct. 31

The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution extending the county's moratorium on accepting or approving permit applications for commercial wind energy conversion systems through Oct. 31, 2025.
Supervisors said the extension gives staff and the board more time to finalize amendments to County Ordinance No. 62, the county's regulations on siting and operating wind energy conversion systems. The board noted the current moratorium was set to expire Sept. 17 and that conditions prompting the earlier moratorium still exist.
The resolution is listed in the transcript as Resolution 2025-42 and passed with an affirmative vote from the supervisors present. The motion to approve was seconded and recorded as approved by voice vote.
County staff said additional chapters of the ordinance remain under review and the extension is intended to prevent the acceptance of new commercial wind permit applications until the amended ordinance is ready. The extension does not itself approve any project or change the substantive rules; it postpones permit acceptance while ordinance language is finalized.
Board members indicated they will continue work sessions on the ordinance content; no new permit applications for commercial wind projects will be accepted by the county until after the moratorium expires or the board takes further action.