LEE COUNTY – The Lee County Board of Supervisors approved the second reading of an ordinance that will govern the installation, maintenance, and decommissioning of energy projects in the county.
The ordinance has been in the works for more than six months and has been posted on the county’s website for residents to view and comment on, but still needs one more final vote before it can be published into the county code. The ordinance would also regulate MET or Meteorological Evaluation Towers, that study wind conditions prior to construction of a wind farm.
The board also discussed resolutions that would establish fees associated with the regulations.
Several residents, including Ted Stein and Andrew Johnson of rural Lee County, spoke to supervisors at their regular meeting Tuesday afternoon about the setbacks on the ordinance.
Both men have been regular attendees of multiple meetings the county had to discuss the ordinance with voters with several project companies in attendance.
Stein said he would like the county to consider an additional debris setback of four times the height of wind turbines placed in the county.
Several companies, including Tenaska Energy, have started to look at Lee County for large scale wind projects. That project has lost some energy as of late. Supervisor Garry Seyb said he's heard the company has put the project on hold due to lack of interest by Lee County property owners.
The county is looking at a possible additional solar field that will help power a nitrogen facility proposed by GoSolar. The project would help provide energy in the form of nitrogen to the Iowa Fertilizer Co. Rumors are also circulating about a possible data center from the same company. Both projects would be in the Green Bay bottoms area.
Stein said he’s read the complete draft ordinance. He said research on debris field from wind towers that have fallen are as much as four times the height of the towers.
He also said the ordinance doesn’t address shadow flicker, which is the visual effect of rapidly changing light and dark patterns caused by the rotating blades of a wind turbine casting shadows on nearby buildings or structures.
“They should be able to consider shadow flicker in their design and make sure it’s not going to land on occupied structures,” Stein said.
In a workshop following the board meeting, Southeast Regional Planning’s Jarred Lassiter said regulating shadow flicker is extremely difficult and comes down to enforcement. He said general language that guides project developers to consider the effects could lead to better management of the problem, rather than specific language.
Supervisor Chuck Holmes asked if Stein is wanting a larger setback for wind towers.
“I’m suggesting if we have evidence that debris is landing farther than one and a half or 110% away from the tower, that it should be considered,” he said.
Holmes said that could be prohibitive on the project.
“I suppose it would be, but it’s not your job to make it easier for them,” Stein said.
Holmes also pressed Stein on the legitimacy of four times the height of the tower for a debris field and said no other county in the state has that kind of a setback. Stein said he could produce evidence that shows debris has flown that far.
“If we’re the only ones that are right, then we’re right,” Stein said.
The board will issue the final reading on the ordinance at its next meeting.
In other action, the board:
• approved the 2025-26 fiscal year budget.
• approved an application for opioid funds to be used to hire a counselor at the Lee County Jail. The board is now required to advertise the position that will likely be an employee of the Lee County Sheriff’s Department.
• approved a $44,000 change order for low voltage cabling at the Meller Family Health Center currently under construction in Fort Madison.
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