Pottawattamie supervisors give preliminary approval to development agreement with RWE for wind project

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 granted preliminary approval for a development agreement with RWE Clean Energy, LLC, to advance the Pottawattamie Wind Project, subject to final documentation and approval.

The motion to grant preliminary approval was made by Supervisor Keith Jones and seconded by Supervisor Susan Miller. The roll call vote recorded Supervisors Brian Shea, Susan Miller and Keith Jones as voting aye; Supervisor Tim Wichman voted nay; Supervisor Jeff Jorgensen was absent. The board’s minutes record the action as "grant preliminary approval for development agreement with RWE Clean Energy, LLC, regarding the Pottawattamie Wind Project, subject to final approval." No additional terms were recorded in the open minutes; the motion says the approval was preliminary and contingent on final approval of the development agreement.

During the meeting the board had met in closed session earlier that day under Iowa Code §21.5(1)(c) to discuss pending or potential litigation; after returning to open session the recommendation from the County Attorney was accepted and the preliminary approval vote followed. The open session minutes do not include detailed negotiation terms or financial specifics for the proposed agreement.

What happens next: The decision gives RWE and county negotiators authority to proceed with drafting final contract documents. Final approval and any required findings, conditions, or vote will be necessary before a binding development agreement is executed.