Des Moines County extends moratorium on commercial wind energy permits through Oct. 31, 2025

The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors voted Sept. 2 to extend a temporary moratorium on accepting or approving permit applications for commercial wind energy conversion systems (CWC) through Oct. 31, 2025.

Resolution 2025-43, introduced at the meeting, states the board needs additional time to finalize amendments to county ordinance No. 62 governing the siting and operation of wind energy conversion systems. The resolution extends the existing three‑month moratorium on accepting or approving CWC siting permits until Oct. 31, 2025.

A motion to approve the resolution was made and seconded; recorded board members voted in favor and the chair declared the motion carried. The measure is intended to preserve the board’s ability to draft and consider ordinance language without new permit applications arriving during that period.

No substantive debate about the merits of wind energy policy occurred at the meeting; staff characterized the extension as a procedural pause while ordinance language is finalized. The resolution as read will be the subject of future public hearings as required by law before any permanent ordinance changes are adopted.