A proposed natural gas power plant near Cedar Rapids hit a wall at the county level early Wednesday. The Linn County Board of Supervisors unanimously denied Alliant Energy's rezoning request for its proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center, CBS 2 Iowa reported. But the project could still move forward through a separate state process.
The request
Alliant Energy, through Interstate Power and Light, asked to rezone about 149.55 acres at the southeast corner of Linn-Benton Road and U.S. Highway 30 from agricultural to Exclusive Use-Two, or EU-2, according to CBS 2. Linn County requires natural gas electric generating plants to be in EU-2 zones.
All three supervisors voted no at the board's first consideration. The vote also cancels the second and third readings of the rezoning ordinance.
Why the supervisors said no
The county said the decision was based on development standards covering land-use compatibility, public health and safety, environmental quality, infrastructure, emergency response, surrounding properties and consistency with the comprehensive plan, CBS 2 reported.
Board Chair Kirsten Running-Marquardt said development "must make sense for the community that will live with the consequences."
Supervisor Sami Scheetz said "the record didn't show that adequate public facilities are in place for water and wastewater." He also said Alliant hasn't put the plant's cost on the public record and plans to ask customers to pay for it after it's built. "Growth should pay its own way, not raise costs for the families already here," he said.
Supervisor Brandy Meisheid said her vote "is not a vote against progress. It is a vote for thoughtful growth."
How it got here
The supervisors' vote came after Monday's Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting ended in a 3-3 tie on a motion to recommend denial. A seventh commissioner attended remotely but didn't respond when called to vote, so the application went to the supervisors without a recommendation, CBS 2 reported.
Commissioners spent about four hours questioning Alliant about the plant's water use, noise, environmental impact and whether another power plant is needed in the area. Alliant has said the project would meet noise limits and that it planned to truck water to and from the site.
The state could still approve it
Despite the county's denial, the Iowa Utilities Commission has authority to issue a generating certificate that overrides the county's rezoning decision, according to CBS 2. The commission is scheduled to begin considering Alliant's application on Dec. 7, 2026.
That review is separate from the project's air quality permit application, which is still under review by Linn County Public Health and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Why it matters for contractors
A new gas-fired power plant is one of the largest kinds of industrial construction jobs, with big packages for earthwork, foundations, structural steel, piping, electrical, mechanical and controls work. For eastern Iowa contractors and union trades, the Morgan Valley Energy Center would be a significant multi-year project if it gets built.
The county vote doesn't kill the project. It moves the decision to the state. The Iowa Utilities Commission review starting Dec. 7 is now the key date, along with the separate air permit review. Contractors interested in this work should follow both.
The supervisors' reasons also point to issues any power plant project in the county will have to address: water and wastewater capacity, noise and cost to ratepayers. Alliant's plan to truck water to and from the site, for example, could bring hauling and logistics work but also drew questions. If the project goes forward through the state, contractors should expect close scrutiny of water handling, noise control and traffic during construction.