Alliant Energy asks supervisors to advance battery storage permit; says company revenue to county is rising

Justin Foss, an Alliant Energy representative, addressed the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors during public comment to request that the company be placed on a future agenda to discuss a proposed battery storage project near Buffalo Center.

Foss told supervisors Alliant has invested in the county—s wind infrastructure and that in the last two years the company—s taxable payments to the county totaled about $1 million and roughly $2.5 million over 10 years. He said the company seeks to build battery storage in the northern part of the county to respond to rapidly growing grid demand and asked to meet with planning and zoning and the board to pursue a special use permit and road agreement. County staff later confirmed the planning and zoning commission had reviewed the proposal, and the board said it would place the item on a future agenda and coordinate with the county engineer on potential road agreements.

Separately during the meeting, county engineering staff noted they had begun reviewing a road agreement for the Golden Plains battery project and described the anticipated concrete work (about 25 cubic yards for foundations) as limited; staff asked whether the board wanted to provide direction before the topic returns with more detail. The board also discussed the planning and zoning commission—s caution that the county currently lacks a standalone ordinance for some aspects of battery/storage siting and that a joint-development agreement approach could be used to set conditions while the county develops formal guidance.

What happens next: Supervisors requested the company provide materials and asked staff to circulate a draft joint-development agreement for board review and planning & zoning input. The item will return to a future agenda.