Linn County's strong commitment to clean energy

In 2019, Linn County passed a climate resolution recognizing the danger of increasingly volatile weather, caused by the unprecedented levels of carbon in our atmosphere from burning fossil fuels. The resolution declared the county would “decrease countywide CO2 emissions by 45 percent from the first recorded year’s levels by 2030.” In order to accomplish this goal, we need to switch to renewable energy such as solar.

With the retirement of the Duane Arnold Energy Center, we need new sources of energy for our community. Our options are burning more fossil fuels or becoming a leader in the state, region, and country by switching to clean, renewable energy.

A solar project at Duane Arnold will be a great step forward to achieving our clean energy goals. This project can be done in a way that has additional environmental benefits, including native vegetation at the sites and in buffer areas, soil restoration, and livestock grazing. Linn County has excellent ordinances to make sure these benefits are included in the solar project.

This is a great opportunity for our community to create jobs, help the environment, and honor our commitment to become a leader in clean, renewable energy.

Jason Snell

Cedar Rapids