Zoning commission tables vote on Morgan Valley Energy Center rezoning
The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission tabled a vote on Alliant Energy's rezoning application for the proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center, a 720-megawatt gas plant. The decision was deferred after over four hours of public comment and commissioner questions, with requests for more information on water use and emissions. The plant is intended to meet growing energy demand, partly from new data centers in the area, but faces significant local opposition and environmental concerns.
The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-2 to table a rezoning application from Alliant Energy for its proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center, a 720-megawatt gas plant planned for western Linn County, Iowa. The decision followed more than four hours of intense public comment and commissioner questions regarding the project's environmental impact, water usage, and consistency with the county's comprehensive plan.
Alliant Energy, through its subsidiary Interstate Power and Light (IPL), seeks to build the gas plant on 55 acres near Highway 30 and the Benton County line, requiring the land to be rezoned from agricultural to Exclusive Use 2 (EU-2). Alliant states the plant is crucial for meeting growing energy demand from large industrial customers in Iowa and Wisconsin, including new data centers under construction in southwest Cedar Rapids, which would utilize a "substantial portion" of the plant's output. Construction would begin in 2027 if approved by the county and the Iowa Utilities Commission, aiming for service by 2030.
The project faces considerable opposition, led by the grassroots group Save Morgan Valley, which has gathered petitions and hosted town halls. Additionally, the cities of Atkins, Fairfax, and Benton County have formally opposed the project and intervened in the Iowa Utilities Commission case. Concerns raised include incomplete water and wastewater plans, potential noise exceeding ordinance limits, air quality issues (Linn County has an F grade from the American Lung Association), and the plant's significant CO2 emissions. Commissioners also noted the project's lack of alignment with many goals of the county's comprehensive plan.
The Linn County Planning and Development director Charlie Nichols hopes to reschedule a commission meeting for mid-October to issue a recommendation to the Linn County Board of Supervisors, who are set to consider the rezoning request on October 20th. The Iowa Utilities Commission will have the final say on the project, with a formal hearing scheduled for December 7th.