Bill would strip local control over some energy regulations

If passed, SF 376, introduced by Sen. Mike Klimesh, will remove ALL local control for siting renewable energy. No county will be allowed to deny a commercial company a permit or limit the number of turbines or solar panels in that county, use Corn Suitability Ratings to protect fertile soil from becoming a turbine/solar field, or set a safe setback from your house or property line.

This bill goes directly against Iowa Code 352: “It is the intent of the general assembly to provide local citizens and local governments the means by which agricultural land may be protected from non-agricultural development pressures.”

If you value local control in your county, please help stop SF 376 in its tracks. If it passes, ALL counties will be overrun with turbines and solar panels. Farmland will become commercial land. If this local control grab passes, what right will the state take away from local control next time? Once that door is opened, it will be impossible to close.

Please write your state representatives and senators. Tell them to vote NO on SF 376. Write President Donald Trump and remind him of his promise to rescind federal subsidies on all wind turbine projects, including on land projects.

You can read the bill at legis.iowa.gov. For more information visit bucoa.org.

Bonnie Urban

Brandon