Cerro Gordo County Supervisors vote to ban utility scale renewable energy developments

By ROBIN McCLELLAND – Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa (TNS)

After two hours of debate involving nearly 40 members of the public, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to prohibit utility-scale wind, solar and battery energy developments in rural Cerro Gordo County.

Supervisors approved Ordinance 69, making permanent a moratorium on such developments that began in May 2023.

The ordinance states that industrial- or utility-scale solar energy systems, wind energy conversion systems or battery energy storage systems are prohibited uses on county land zoned A-1 and A-2. It also removes those projects from the special uses category.

The ordinance was recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission following the development of the Cerro Gordo County Comprehensive Plan. The five-member commission sent its recommendation to supervisors in June.

Nearly 40 members of the public, including members of the P&Z commission, spoke during the public hearing. A representative of Chicago-based Ranger Power, Hope Winkler, read a prepared statement to the board. Ranger Power has received a commitment from local farmers to devote more than 3,000 acres of land for a solar farm.

“We began working in the county over two and a half years ago, meeting with landowners and making early introductions to county officials,” Winkler read. She listed the ways Ranger Power had supported the county and the process. She stated that the company had worked closely with the county to develop regulations that would allow for solar farms in a way that would respect neighbors and meet county regulations.

“Prohibiting the use entirely is contradictory to Iowa code,” Winkler continued. “Chapter 18b states that planning, zoning, development and resource management should be undertaken to promote clean and renewable energy use and increased energy efficiency.”

Opinions on the ban were mixed. Landowners who have opposed the project from the beginning were pleased the county agreed with their perspective, while proponents made clear they felt the county had no right to tell them how to use their property.

Mike Bartlett manages the land his father, Robert Bartlett, acquired and worked during his lifetime. The senior Bartlett died in September but had worked with Ranger Power to lease his acres to generate income for his family. Mike Bartlett works the land now.

“(My father) had just seen my stepmom, Marlene, spend three years in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s and chew up over $200,000 of money they had set aside for retirement. He looked at (the offer from Ranger) as an opportunity to provide something for the rest of the family going forward,” Mike Bartlett said.

Detractors of renewable energy agreed with supervisors that the Cerro Gordo County Comprehensive Plan, developed in tandem with the cities of Mason City and Clear Lake, requires agricultural land be preserved for agricultural purposes.

Supervisor Chris Watts said, “Ranger ruined it for everyone. It’s too big. The body of water in Clear Lake is 3,600 acres. Does that give you an idea of how large that solar farm is? That’s just huge.”

Proponents, on the other hand, argued the move allows the county to limit ways a farm property can generate income. As farms continue to move out of the hands of families and into the hands of large corporate farmers, many small farmers see leasing acres to renewable energy companies as a way to keep land in families while generating an income.

Supervisors Watts, Lori Meacham Ginapp and Casey Callanan swiftly passed the motion after the nearly two-hour public hearing ended.

The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors meets at 10 a.m. Mondays in the boardroom at the Courthouse at 220 N. Washington Ave. in Mason City.

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