Cerro Gordo supervisors today to consider ban on large-scale wind, solar, battery storage development

MASON CITY — The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors this morning will hold a public hearing and consider the first reading of an amendment to an ordinance that would ban future large-scale industrial-grade development of wind turbines, solar energy or battery storage facilities in the rural portions of the county. 

The supervisors recently accepted a 100-page report from the county’s Planning & Zoning Commission after the commission held numerous public hearings earlier in the year to help study the issue, with the report having the recommendation that there not be future large-scale developments in the county. The amendment would not ban the personal or on-site use for things such as solar panels on an individual home.

It’s likely the supervisors will either waive the second and third readings of the ordinance at their meeting today or waive the final reading of the ordinance at their December 30th meeting since a moratorium on development ends on December 31st. The supervisors meet at 10 o’clock in the first floor board room at the courthouse.

You can see a copy of the proposed ordinance by clicking here