Floyd County to host renewable energy planning workshop June 26

To The Press

Floyd County will be the first in Iowa to host a new workshop designed to help local leaders make informed decisions about utility-scale renewable energy.

The session, “Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Siting, Permitting and Planning in Iowa,” is intended for county supervisors, city council members, school board officials, planning and zoning commissioners and others involved in land use and development decisions.

It is open to the public.

The no-cost workshop will be held on Thursday, June 26, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Zastrow River Room at the Charles City Public Library, 910 Clark St. Due to ongoing construction near City Hall, attendees are asked to park behind the building.

Developed by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the workshop is part of a new statewide educational series focused on helping local governments plan for wind, solar and battery storage projects.

Speakers from ISU, the Center for Rural Affairs, the Great Plains Institute and the Iowa Environmental Council will provide a grounded overview of how renewable energy systems work, how they affect infrastructure and finances, and how local zoning ordinances can be shaped to reflect community needs.

Case studies from other Iowa counties will highlight strategies for public engagement and balancing competing interests.

“As more developers look to rural Iowa, communities are being asked to make long-term decisions about energy infrastructure,” said Luke Seaberg, community development specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

“Our goal is to provide local officials with neutral, accurate and timely information so they can move forward with confidence,” he said.

The event is sponsored locally by the Charles City Area Development Corp. and the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce, and was developed with financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

If your community is interested in hosting a future session or if you’d like more information, contact Luke Seaberg at seaberg@iastate.edu or Esther Crompton, a communication specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, at ecrompt@iastate.edu.