LINN COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Linn County Board of Supervisors passed the third and final consideration of the Duane Arnold Energy Center rezoning.
The board unanimously approved the last consideration just as it has for the first two.
The rezoning application is part of Duane Arnold Energy Center’s request to restart a nuclear power facility in Linn County. The proposed location was zoned agriculture and is now rezoned to exclusive use 2 (EU-2) for nuclear power generation facilities.
The company NextEra Energy plans to re-open the nuclear plant in Palo sometime in 2029.
But it will be required to pay Linn County every year for hosting the plant.
That’s part of an agreement the County Board of Supervisors approved.
One supervisor said that agreement was part of why the board voted to approve the re-zoning.
“By approving the Duane Arnold rezoning application, we are working toward Linn County growing responsibly in the future,” said Linn County Supervisor Chair Kirsten Running-Marquardt. “Our role as a board was to act on the rezoning application, and we used the authority we have to make sure residents have a seat at the table. Through the Host Community Agreement and the MOU tied to this approval, we’re focused on quality of life and making sure NextEra pays its fair share of the project-related costs, so local taxpayers aren’t left footing the bill.”
Another supervisor noted the reopening of Duane Arnold would add new jobs to the county.
“This project shows that Linn County can support major economic development while still standing up for our residents,” said Linn County District 2 Supervisor Sami Scheetz. “With strong zoning protections, hundreds of permanent union jobs, and a host community agreement that ensures the company – not taxpayers – covers the real costs of this project, the County has struck the right balance for our community’s future.”
The Board of Supervisors has the final decision on rezoning applications in unincorporated Linn County. The Duane Arnold Energy Center application will also need approval from multiple state and federal regulatory authorities, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, before a restart can occur.
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