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Supervisors discuss battery-storage project, consider ordinance ahead of developer's land closings
Summary
Kossuth County planning and zoning staff told supervisors a proposed battery storage project tied to the Golden Plains Wind Project is preparing to close property in September; administrators urged a quick policy response if the board wants local rules beyond existing conditional-use procedures
Kossuth County planning and zoning officials briefed supervisors on a proposed battery-energy storage project linked to the Golden Plains Wind Project and urged the board to act quickly if it wants a county ordinance to regulate such facilities.
Corey, the county planning and zoning administrator, told the board that the applicant is preparing to close on adjacent property and that the project promoter has been advised to seek a conditional-use permit from the board of adjustment. "If the board wants to proceed with an ordinance they'll first have to have the planning and zoning commission, go through the comprehensive planning portion of of that," Corey said.
Why it matters: the county's zoning ordinance dates from 1973 and does not explicitly address large commercial battery-storage installations. Planning staff advised that, absent a new ordinance, the board of adjustment will process conditional-use applications under existing rules; some other counties handle battery storage by updating zoning codes with setbacks, noise and fire-safety requirements.
Landowners raised concerns about scale, noise, runoff and fire risk. One resident summarized objections heard by staff: prospective plans showed an array of containers on a parcel and the landowner asked, "What kind of noise is that?" County staff said developer filings with the Iowa Utilities Board and the Iowa Utilities Commission docket include example photos and capacity ranges but that the specific local layout and size for the Kossuth site are part of the pending application and public hearings.
Board members noted that some counties have incorporated technical requirements (setbacks, containment, stormwater controls and emergency response plans) into ordinances; others rely on conditional-use permits with site-specific conditions. Planning staff advised that the planning and zoning commission would need to update the comprehensive plan and then the board could consider an ordinance or direct the county attorney to draft model terms.
No ordinance was adopted at the meeting. Supervisors asked staff to circulate the attorney's draft (staff said a draft exists and would be forwarded to the board) and scheduled monthly planning updates so supervisors can review amendments if they choose to pursue them.
Provenance: the battery-storage discussion begins with a planning-and-zoning report and continues through questions from supervisors and several residents; the transcript records the planning agency's recommendation to use the board of adjustment process unless the board elects to pursue an ordinance.
