Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kossuth supervisors discuss battery storage concerns; staff directed to consult planning about moratorium
Summary
A landowner asked the board to impose a moratorium on commercial battery energy storage systems; supervisors agreed to have planning staff consult with the county planner and report back about possible ordinance or moratorium language.
The board discussed a request from a nearby landowner to impose a moratorium on commercial battery energy storage systems while the county develops an ordinance addressing siting, runoff, noise and safety safeguards.
Supervisor Kyle reported that landowner Dwayne Davis asked the board to pause approvals after an application for a large battery storage cluster in the northern part of the county (a proposed site consisting of 96 battery containers and additional power conversion units on roughly 15 acres) showed up in filings with the Iowa Utilities Board. Davis’ email, read into the record, raised concerns about noise, water runoff, fire and other risks.
Supervisors said that projects already through state permitting processes may be grandfathered and that imposing a moratorium might not affect facilities that have completed state public‑process steps. The board asked planning staff to consult with Todd Holmes and return with options for a county moratorium or ordinance language. Planning staff (Corey) agreed to follow up and report back to the board, with an initial check‑in suggested within about two weeks.
No moratorium or ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the direction was to gather information and bring recommended next steps to the board for formal action.
