The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to deny a rezoning application for the Morgan Valley Energy Center, a proposed project by Interstate Power and Light Company, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy. The facility would consist of three single-cycle gas-fired power plants to be located in Linn County, Iowa.
The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission had met the previous week to consider the rezoning request and deadlocked 3-3, with neither side achieving a majority recommendation. This marked the second meeting where the commission reviewed the application. During deliberations, commissioners raised multiple concerns about the project, including questions regarding water sourcing for cooling operations. IPL was asked to provide additional information at the second meeting but failed to adequately address the outstanding questions according to commissioners. Several members also indicated the project appeared inconsistent with the county’s comprehensive land use plan.
Environmental advocates celebrated the county’s decision. Officials with the Sierra Club characterized the vote as evidence that local decision-makers prioritized protecting county resources and residents from the environmental impacts of fossil fuel infrastructure. Organizers noted concerns about water resource strain and highlighted Alliant’s overall record on renewable energy transition.
The rezoning denial does not necessarily end the project’s prospects. IPL maintains a pending application before the Iowa Utilities Commission, scheduled for consideration on Dec. 7. The supervisors’ decision reflects community engagement during public comment periods at county meetings, according to observers tracking the development.
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