Solar project would attract new businesses, families

Communities in Iowa constantly strive to recruit new business and industry. Local governments may offer a variety of incentives to aid in this pursuit. Frequently cities will battle one another in an effort to attract the next large employer to their community.

Linn County has an opportunity to leapfrog the competition in terms of recruiting new economic activity to the region by becoming a leader in the production of renewable energy. Businesses today actively seek communities that can provide access to consistent and reliable clean energy. Their customers, shareholders, and employees are increasingly in tune with the environmental impact a has on its communities and the world.

The Duane Arnold Solar project as proposed would generate up to 200 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power 40,000 homes. This is exactly the type of incentive that communities such as my own can proudly highlight to recruit new businesses — and families — to the region. The project itself generates economic activity, projecting the creation of almost 500 new jobs and generating more than $81 million in new, long-term economic output over the expected 30-year life of the project.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors will soon be considering the Duane Arnold Solar project application. I encourage them to view this as an opportunity for all communities within the county to turn our region into a leader in innovation and renewable energy production and use. I encourage the Board to support the Duane Arnold Solar project.

Tom Wieseler

Mayor, Mount Vernon

Presenter for Solarize Linn County