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Linn County approves second consideration to rezone Duane Arnold site, signs host community agreement with NextEra Energy
Summary
The Linn County Board advanced a rezoning for about 393 acres at the Duane Arnold site to allow a nuclear energy facility and approved a host community agreement with NextEra Energy Duane Arnold LLC promising $1.9 million annually with a 5% escalator to cover hosting costs.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7 approved second consideration to rezone roughly 393 acres at 3277 DAEC Road in Palo from agricultural to Exclusive Use 2 (EU2), clearing a planning milestone for the proposed restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center.
Charlie Nichols, planning and development, told the board staff concluded the proposal aligns with several elements of the county comprehensive plan, including goals for alternative and renewable energy, economic development and reuse of existing infrastructure. "This is a carbon free source of energy," Nichols said, noting the applicant would reuse infrastructure from the former nuclear plant and recommending a new condition that requires a road-use agreement with the city of Palo.
Board members discussed public concerns about road impacts and oversight limits. A supervisor said some correspondence about road damage cited lessons learned from a previous large solar project and praised tightened road-use agreements. The chair emphasized the county's limited authority over federal and state nuclear regulators but said rezoning would give Linn County a seat at the table in future proceedings.
Separately, the board approved a host community agreement with NextEra Energy Duane Arnold LLC providing an annual payment of $1,900,000 with a 5% annual escalator to cover costs associated with hosting the facility's restart and operation. According to staff, a NextEra representative has signed the agreement and it was ready for the county to sign. One supervisor framed the agreement as protecting taxpayer interests: the county "ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used to subsidize private businesses," he said.
An MOU between Linn County Emergency Management Agency and NextEra for pre-operational emergency-management cost reimbursement was pulled from the agenda at staff's request to allow additional review and will return to the board at a later meeting.
The board took voice votes for both the rezoning second consideration and the host community agreement; both motions were seconded and approved with "Aye" responses.
Next steps: the MOU will be returned for review at a later meeting; the host community agreement is ready for the county signature as presented.
