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Supervisors set June 17 public hearing on moratorium for utility-scale energy systems; direct attorney to draft ordinance
Summary
Kossuth County board set a public hearing for 8:00 a.m. June 17 on a proposed ordinance to extend a moratorium on applications to construct utility-scale energy systems; the board directed counsel to draft the ordinance with an initial sunset date of Dec. 31, 2025.
The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors voted May 27 to set a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to impose or extend a moratorium on applications for utility-scale energy systems, including solar and related battery storage. The hearing was set for 8:00 a.m. on June 17 at the Board of Supervisors meeting room.
County attorney Maria (county attorney) recommended drafting a new ordinance rather than using a resolution to extend an existing moratorium; she said the ordinance process would include planning and zoning review and could waive second and third readings if appropriate. Board members discussed whether battery storage should be explicitly included alongside solar and noted existing projects already in process would need exclusions.
Supervisors also directed counsel to prepare the ordinance with a proposed moratorium expiration date of Dec. 31, 2025, to give the county adequate time to complete the planning and zoning review and ordinance adoption. The board approved the resolution to set the public hearing and directed the attorney to prepare the ordinance; the motion carried unanimously.
The board said it wants the process to move promptly and asked the attorney to provide a draft for review before the hearing. Planning-staff involvement and public notices required by ordinance-publishing rules were also discussed.
