Neighbors urge Benton County to press Alliant Energy for answers on proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center

Multiple residents, including Jane Scheer, addressed the Benton County Board of Supervisors on March 31 to oppose or seek more information about the proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center being developed by Alliant Energy along the Benton/Linn county line near Highway 30.

Scheer and several neighbors raised concerns about potential pollution, lights, noise and odor and described the project as having impacts extending within an asserted 10-mile radius. Several speakers said Benton County residents were not adequately informed about the proposal; Supervisor Tracy Seeman said he had recently learned details at an Alliant meeting and that further questions remain before he would endorse the project. City of Atkins representative Scott Flory attended and asked the county and Alliant to provide more information; county staff and supervisors invited Alliant representatives to a future council meeting to explain the proposal.

Planning staff Andrea Morris noted Linn County's ordinance includes a 2.25-mile setback for the project and said she had been researching whether that measure or similar protections should be considered for Benton County. After extended public comment the board urged residents with concerns to contact the Iowa Utilities Commission and refer to docket #GCU-2026-0002 for official filings and comment instructions.

The meeting record shows the board listened for over an hour to public concerns and asked Alliant Energy to present additional information to local officials; the transcript does not record county action or commitment to a specific regulatory or legal step beyond asking residents to use the IUB docket for formal comments.