CLINTON, Iowa – In the next few years, there will be a massive solar energy facility and a separate wind energy operation in Clinton County that combined will create millions of dollars for the economy and at least hundreds of jobs.
That is the hope of the energy company planning and moving forward with the proposed two operations.
Officials with NextEra Energy recently gave an update on the two energy projects during a lunch meeting at the Grow Clinton office.
If all goes according to NextEra Energy’s plans, the solar project – called the Rock Creek Solar Project – and the wind energy plans – called the Clinton County Wind Project – will both be operational by December 2026.
“Always, always, always, these projects, whether they are solar or wind, will create local jobs,” Kimberly Dickey, a project director for NextEra Energy, said during the Grow Clinton “Lunch and Learn” session. The presentation attracted about 30 members of the local business community and government leaders.
Ms. Dickey manages the development of projects from start to finish. She meets with stakeholders and landowners to discuss project specifics, timelines and the economic benefits projects can bring to communities, according to NextEra Energy.
During the hour-long meeting, Ms. Dickey and Megan Murphy Salyer, lead communications strategist for NextEra Energy, fielded questions and gave updates on the progress of the two projects.
Ms. Murphy Salyer told the crowd that the presentation was aimed at battling misinformation about the projects that is spreading through online forums.
“Here are the facts. … We believe the future is renewables,” she added.
Among the details presented by the NextEra Energy officials were:
- Rock Creek Solar Project – This solar project will be placed on about 900 acres in Clinton County – in and around Camanche, west to Low Moor, and the northern part of the county. It will consist of photovoltaic solar arrays capable of generating up to 150 megawatts of renewable energy. Only about one-third of the 900 acres will have rows of solar panels, said Ms. Dickey. The project investment will be at least $216 million, will generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, and generate about $9 million in tax revenues. The project is expected to produce enough energy to power more than 30,000 homes. Construction of the Rock Creek project is expected to begin late next year and be complete and operational by December 2026. More information on the project can be found here. The project also has a Facebook page here.
- Clinton County Wind Project – This project will consist of 80 to 90 wind turbines that will be placed over 180 square miles in Clinton County. Construction work is expected to begin in early 2026 and be operational by December of that year. The work zone covers much of Clinton County from Preston to Goose Lake and south to Welton. The project is expected to produce enough energy to power more than 50,000 homes.
Ms. Dickey said that the proposed work zone is so large because the company knows some landowners will not want the wind turbines on their property. It’s likely, she added, that large sections of the 180 square miles will not see any work, while other parts of that zone could have several turbines grouped together.
“If a landowner doesn’t want to work with us, that’s fine. … We don’t want to force anything.” said Ms. Murphy Salyer, adding the company will not use eminent domain to get property.
The Clinton County Wind Project is expected to produce hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, and $25 million in tax revenue over the expected 30-year life of the project. (The NextEra officials said that a website on the project – ClintonCountyWind.com – would be created. But as of early this week, the website did not seem to be operational.)
“The response from the community has been very positive as we connect with our neighbors and provide facts about these projects,” Ms. Murphy Salyer said in a recent statement to the QCBJ.
She added that the next step for both projects will be to submit an application to the appropriate governing bodies for review.
In addition to project websites, NextEra has also set up an office in Clinton at 1320 11th St. NW.
While the presentation at Grow Clinton largely focused on the benefits of the energy projects, the proposals also have received some resistance in Clinton County communities. Recently, a Facebook page called “Clinton County/Grand Mound residents against solar farm” was started.
The page features many opposition messages to the solar farm including one that says “Fighting the Fight! I believe most of us are all for clean energy. However a Solar Farm located on Grand Mound, Iowa, city boundaries is not the place to start. Too much is unknown regarding solar panel contamination. Yes, folks they do contaminate. The Solar Farm neighbors are the ones that get hurt; the ONLY BENEFICIARY is the landowner and outside investors not Clinton County.”
However, another post on the page called it: “Garbage page, posting nothing but small town propaganda supporting farmers, oil industry, and the lack of change.”
NextEra Energy, based in Juno Beach, Florida, calls itself the world’s largest producer of wind and solar energy. In Iowa, the company states it has 13 wind energy centers in operation, one generation service and repair facility, one training facility, two solar projects in development, one energy storage project in development and one wind project in development.
