Zoning board could nix large Iowa solar farm with 'highly restrictive' requirements

Vote is scheduled for May 13

[Cherokee County, Iowa] A 900-acre proposed solar farm in Cherokee County might be the fourth largest in Iowa and provide substantial tax revenues to the rural county residents.

But standing in the way is a proposed zoning ordinance that would require a setback minimum of up to 13 times greater than the average setback requirements for solar farms across America.

Supporters of the project, that has been in discussion for more than two years, say that if this setback is approved by the zoning board next week, the project will likely die.

The Maple River Solar Project, being developed by TED Renewables, is a proposed solar farm that would produce 160 megawatts. That would generate enough clean energy to power approximately 27,000 homes annually.

If the project goes through, it would be one of the largest solar farms in the state and would be a boon to the small county in northwest Iowa of fewer than 12,000 residents.

The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote May 13 to determine the zoning board's ordinance for the setback. The supervisors can accept the zoning board's recommendations as is or change them. The county currently has no solar farms, but there are at least 16 utility-scale solar farms in the state.

One of the biggest hurdles facing the project is the zoning setback ordinances for the project set up by the county Zoning Board.

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