Supporters of a wind energy farm in the Iowa Great Lakes area say they were stunned when county officials denied a permit for the project.
The Dickinson County Board of Adjustment on a 3-1 count voted down a permit Wednesday evening for the Red Rock Energy Center, which included around 80 turbines.
Austin Fairchild is a city council member in Terril.
“This project would have come with economic development, money, and more jobs to the area that would have been needed. I think we missed an opportunity here. I hope we appeal and win.”
County officials say an appeal must be filed within 30 days. Invenergy, which is based in Chicago, hasn’t released a statement about the decision. A lawyer for the company, previously said millions of dollars were spent developing the project.
Opponents of the proposed wind farm credited a grassroots effort for putting a pause on the project.
Tears streamed down the face of Kris Van Kleet after the Dickinson County Board of Adjustment denied a permit for the Red Rock Energy Center.
Van Kleet six months ago helped start the group Dickinson County Concerned Citizens to protest the project. Dozens showed up to say why they didn’t want turbines near their homes, in hearings from Monday to Wednesday this week. Those opponents talked about potential impacts on health, wildlife, property values, and tourism.
