Preliminary work for solar project begins

Work has begun on the construction of a solar-power generating facility east of Creston. Union County Engineer Christian Boehmer informed the Union County Board of Supervisors Monday including minor revisions to the county’s solar-power ordinance that were approved by the board.

According to information from Alliant Energy from previous meetings, the project encompasses 300 acres east of the Howard and Osage street intersection on Creston’s east side. Not every acre will be used for solar power generation. Approximately 76 acres are planned to be used for the related infrastructure. The facility is to be built on privately owned land where landowners voluntarily participated for the construction.

A completion date has not been determined.

Alliant expects the generated power to be used in Union County especially during the summer months when electrical usage is typically greater.

In 2021, Union County officials were researching and preparing an ordinance for solar power with input from Alliant.

Alliant has smaller solar projects in Iowa near Marshalltown, Dubuque and one is under construction near Cedar Rapids.

In other county news...

Supervisors approved the appointment of two new medical examiners; Katie Evans and Tinneal Harris. Evans has experience as a coroner in Kansas. Harris has experience as an EMT.

Kendalynn Huff and Carol Smith, representing the CARE facility in Afton, gave up and update on the facility’s budget and items. Huff said she is looking for a handicap accessible van for CARE. The facility’s annual meeting is scheduled Oct. 17 at the Supertel Inn and Conference Center.