TAYLOR COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-21
Resolution to Establish a Temporary Moratorium on the Construction of Wind
Turbines in the Unincorporated Areas of Taylor County, Iowa
WHEREAS one wind farm project (Contrail Wind Project) has been constructed in the unincorporated areas of Taylor County, Iowa, and a second wind farm project (Black Maple Wind) is well into preparations for construction in the unincorporated areas of Taylor County, Iowa; and
WHEREAS the Board of Supervisors, hereafter referred to as “Board”, has concerns that in the future additional wind farm projects may be developed for the construction of wind turbines and/or related facilities in the unincorporated areas of Taylor County, Iowa; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that before any such additional construction takes placed in Taylor County, a temporary moratorium should be put into place to ensure that the Board has sufficient time to consider whether amendments to its existing ordinances would be appropriate, including, but not limited to, the possibility of imposing a limit on the number of wind turbines that can be constructed in the unincorporated areas of Taylor County and/or possible changes in the setback distances, wind turbine height restrictions, and cable depth, to ensure that said facilities are constructed and operated in a safe manner, the rights of persons or property within reasonable distance of said facilities are appropriately protected, the conditions of County roads are protected, and the deconstruction of damaged or inoperable wind turbines and/or related facilities are ensured; and
WHEREAS, the Board desires to have said temporary moratorium in place until such time as potential amendment of its existing ordinances can be adequately considered and, if deemed appropriate, said amended ordinances could be prepared and passed to provide appropriate regulation of said facilities.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED by the Taylor County Board of Supervisors that:
1. The Board does hereby establish and impose a temporary moratorium on any additional construction of wind turbines and/or related facilities in the unincorporated areas of Taylor County, Iowa, to ensure that the Board has sufficient time to consider whether amendments to its existing ordinances would be appropriate, including, but not limited to, the possibility of imposing a limit on the number of wind turbines that can be constructed in the unincorporated areas of Taylor County and/or possible changes in the setback distances, wind turbine height restrictions, and cable depth, to ensure that said facilities are constructed and
operated in a safe manner, the rights of persons or property within reasonable distance of said facilities are appropriately protected, the conditions of County roads are protected, and the deconstruction of damaged or inoperable wind turbines and/or related facilities are ensured.
2. This moratorium does not prohibit the substantial repair or replacement any wind turbines that comprise the Contrail Wind Project, or prohibit the construction of wind turbines and/or related facilities, other than Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), as part of the Black Maple Wind Project.
3. This temporary moratorium shall become effective upon passage.
Dated this 14th day of June, 2023.
