Policy
The Iowa Environmental Council and Center for Rural Affairs have released a best practices guide for counties developing utility-scale solar siting ordinances, Iowa Solar Siting Resource Guide: Best Practices for Counties.
In addition to outlining the best practices of a good solar ordinance including process, treatment in zoning districts, setbacks, infrastructure, and decommissioning, the guide also includes guidance on how to best pair solar with native vegetation and pollinator habitat.
Iowa currently has about 110 MW of solar, mostly located at homes, farms, and businesses. Major utility-scale projects in Louisa, Mitchell, and Howard Counties will bring Iowa’s solar capacity to nearly 1,000 MW with more solar planned in other areas of the state.
