The Scott County Board of Supervisors is getting another chance to oppose a proposed $400 million energy generating facility that could be built on prime farmland in a rural part of the county.
The board is scheduled to discuss an intervention of that energy plant plan during its 8:30 a.m. meeting on Tuesday, July 14. That meeting will be held in the first floor board room of the Scott County Administrative Center, 600 W. 4th St., Davenport.
The energy plant plan, proposed by Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO), is called the Hickory Grove Generating Station. If approved, the energy facility will be built on 90 acres of agricultural land in Hickory Grove Township outside of Maysville. It will be a 240-megawatt natural gas-fired electric generating station and provide power to Iowans across 58 counties.
In February, the county board voted down a county zoning ordinance change that would have added thermal electric energy generation to the list of approved special uses for ag land, therefore allowing an energy plant to be built on farmland.
The vote was 4-0 against the amendment. Supervisors John Maxwell, Jean Dickson, Ross Paustian and Maria Bribriesco voted against it. Ken Beck abstained from the vote.
During that meeting, Mr. Maxwell said there likely is a need for more power plants, but agriculture preservation (AP) land was created for a reason. Putting an energy plant on AP land would probably take it out of ag production forever. He called for better energy plant plans and a better location.
Plan goes to state commission
Not long after the energy plan failed at the county government level, CIPCO officials approached the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) to essentially overturn the board’s ruling and approve the energy plant plan.
One of the first steps of that possible approval came on April 6 when the IUC hosted a public information meeting on the Hickory Grove project. The meeting, held at Rhythm City Casino and Resort in Davenport, attracted more than 100 people including many who are area landowners or people who live near the proposed energy facility.
Tuesday’s county board agenda item is being described as a discussion regarding intervention on the CIPCO plant proposal before the Iowa Utilities Commission. (That agenda can be found here.)
Much of the opposition to the proposed power plant has been organized by the grassroots organization called Concerned Citizens of Scott County. In late May, that group held a workshop to help local residents prepare to file opposing statements to the IUC – online and through postcards – to the energy plant project.
“We believe prime agricultural land should not be used for this purpose. Surrounding Century Farms and thousands of local citizens will be impacted. Multiple environmental, safety and concerns, plus the potential for changes to property values and taxes will result,” according to information from Concerned Citizens.
Details of the plan
Here are some details about the Hickory Grove Generating Station previously provided by CIPCO:
- It will generate safe and stable power using efficient, powerful, simple-cycle combustion turbine equipment.
- The power facility will consist of one combustion turbine generator with an exhaust stack that is expected to reach 150 feet. The footprint of the facility is expected to be placed on 30 acres.
- Adding natural gas peaking generation will bring a responsible balance of economy, flexibility and dependability to CIPCO’s resource portfolio.
- Promote a positive impact on neighboring communities. CIPCO said it is committed to working with surrounding landowners and transparently addressing community concerns.
- The plant, if approved, is expected to go online in late 2029. Construction could begin in the spring of 2027.
- Constructing the plant is estimated to cost between $350 million to $400 million.
- The project should create 200 jobs during the construction phase. Then, five to seven permanent jobs at the facility.
- Provide a net output of 240 MW of electricity with around-the-clock capacity.
- Through member-owners, CIPCO provides electricity to 58 Iowa counties stretching from the southwest corner to the northeast corner.
The energy facility is needed because of the continued rising demand for energy, especially during high-demand periods such as winter and summer, CIPCO said.
