Union County revisits solar, data center projects

Almost a year after approving a moratorium for new solar energy projects in Union County, Alliant Energy, who received a permit in 2023 to construct an upgrade to their system before the moratorium’s passage, will be requesting changes to the original permit.

Sean Keenan, a member of resource development at Alliant, visited the Union County supervisors to discuss the changes in an amended application for Alliant’s solar energy system east of Creston. The system began operation in December 2024 and produces 50 megawatts during peak sunlight hours.

The permit was approved for a 25-megawatt battery upgrade to Alliant’s energy field. The battery, approved in September 2023, would be used to store energy and release it during peak usage hours.

The amended application would increase the capacity of this battery, from 25 megawatts to 40 megawatts. Keenan said this change is being made to accommodate the energy demands of the local community.

“The reason for that, just quite simply, is same reason why the solar field itself was installed,” Keenan said. “It is energy demand, the need for an increase in the capacity of the battery storage facility to meet the projected demand of the energy grid in the coming five, 10, 20 years.”

Keenan said he’s meeting with county emergency management and the Creston Fire Department to create emergency safety plans out of the changes being requested.

The moratorium passed in 2025 prohibits additional solar projects to be approved in Union County and was made with the expectation of seeing the results of existing solar systems’ energy production and tax expenditure.

The permit for the expanded battery was approved before the moratorium was enacted, and the county noted at the time the project would be allowed to continue.

Alliant is preparing for construction to begin on the original 25 megawatt battery upgrade, with site grading already begun. Plans could change if the county approve the amended permit application, which the county expects to receive sometime next month.

In other Union County news...

Union County held an additional discussion on planning a moratorium for data centers within the county. Before any more action will be made on a potential moratorium, the county agreed to create a data center committee, currently comprised of six members of Union County to better inform the supervisors.

One of those members joining the committee is Phil Kinser, representing Southwest Iowa REC, which owns the data center originally discussed during the previous week’s meeting.

Kinser, noting coverage by the Creston News Advertiser, sought to clarify information regarding the data center and temper worries on water and energy usage. Kinser said the data center is much smaller compared to the figures presented by the county during the last meeting.

A resolution will be created for the next meeting establishing a temporary year-long moratorium on any new data center projects. This will allow for the Southwest Iowa REC data center to continue development. Over the next few months as the data center committee meets, the county expects to see an ordinance and recommendations for a permit system.

An update was given by MidAmerican Project Outreach Manager John Huff on the Orient Energy Center set for construction. Construction is expected to begin this week with some initial grading. Huff said he expects traffic to be light during these beginning stages, but will increase as the project continues.

Creston Waterworks is extending a water main down Beechwood Avenue, which would head east to the center when it reaches Adair-Union Street.

As a part of these construction plans, road grading will be performed. To accommodate these plans, the board of supervisors approved a resolution which will set a 35 mph speed limit on Adair-Union Street from the intersection of Orange Avenue to State Highway 25.

Supervisor Dennis Brown was not present at Wednesday’s meeting.