Franklin County supervisors discuss solar and battery-storage plans, express concerns over state preemption and emergency response

Supervisors and county staff discussed proposed large-scale solar and battery-storage projects and how those proposals may interact with county land-use rules.

Board members said they have an existing county ordinance governing solar and wind siting and that recent notices indicate companies are exploring projects in Franklin County. Supervisors raised concerns that applicants may attempt to route projects through the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) or similar state processes, potentially limiting the county’s ability to apply local ordinances.

County staff described that battery-storage facilities typically require a conditional-use review and Board of Adjustment consideration because designs differ (examples given included shipping-container-style battery banks and building-mounted systems). Staff said conditional-use review allows the county to evaluate site-specific issues — noise, decommissioning plans and emergency response measures — rather than trying to draft a single ordinance to cover every technology variant.

Supervisors and staff also raised emergency-response issues tied to battery fires and the need for higher-capacity water supplies and fire training for volunteer departments if a large storage facility is built. The discussion noted that applicants must provide decommissioning plans and that the county would require public-notice and neighbor-notification steps during any conditional-use review.

No formal application for a solar or battery facility was recorded in the transcript; board members encouraged staff to monitor applications and notify landowners. A supervisor said he had received a message that Ranger Power had expressed interest in moving a solar project into the county; staff reiterated the county has a solar ordinance and directed inquiries to the planning process.

The board did not vote on changes to ordinances at this meeting.