CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Cheers erupted as Morgan Valley advocates realized the Linn County Planning & Zoning Commission would not recommend approval of Alliant Energy’s proposed rezoning for a new power plant on agricultural land west of Cedar Rapids.
It wasn’t exactly a knock-out victory, but members of the grassroots Save Morgan Valley group had at least one night to relish a win after the commission tied 3-3 Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, on a vote to deny Alliant’s request to rezone about 150 acres of land south of Highway 30 along the gravel Linn-Benton Road for a 720 megawatt gas-fired power plant.
Only after the commission’s legal counsel, Elena Wolford, explained that the tie equated a denial of Alliant’s rezoning request did the group celebrate.
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Members of Save Morgan Valley urge a “no” vote during the Linn County Planning & Zoning Commission meeting on Oct. 19. 2026. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
That celebration might be short-lived, as the Linn County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing and first consideration of the rezoning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the same place as the commission meeting, the Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids.
Commissioners make a recommendation to the board, but their vote is not binding.
About 100 people attended Monday’s meeting, which ran more than 4 1/2 hours, with nearly 35 members of the public addressing the commission. Just one voiced support for the rezoning, citing opportunities for economic development.
Others passionately cited reasons against the proposed plant, including air quality, noise and light pollution and health and safety concerns.
Some referenced potential conflicts of interest with commission members whose employers stood to profit from the power plant, though Charlie Nichols, Linn County’s planning and development director, said that no such conflicts existed, according to legal counsel.
“We can’t ignore the pollution because of the county line,” said Stacey Bakker, who lives on a nearby Iowa Heritage Farm, in her family for more than 150 years. Bakker referenced the 2.25-mile setback requirement from the nearest incorporated city. The town of Atkins is within that range, but is in Benton County, so Linn County does not consider the town under the requirement, even as the volunteer Atkins Fire Department would have to serve the new power plant.
“We have all of the risk with none of the reward,” she said. “A loophole is not a license to do wrong.”
Atkins, Fairfax and Benton County all have submitted formal opposition to the proposal.
Benton County Supervisor Bruce Volz addresses the commission during the Oct. 19, 2026 meeting. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Representatives of all three jurisdictions voiced opposition at Monday’s meeting, with Benton County Supervisor Bruce Volz requesting the required one year of pre-construction air quality monitoring, which Alliant has asked to waive.
Atkins City Administrator Scott Flory asked for a traffic management plan and questioned what entities are legally entitled to supply water service in the area.
Alliant representatives said they do not need approval to truck water to the site and have it trucked away, though they mentioned preferring to have an agreement with the city of Cedar Rapids for providing city water as well as wastewater treatment.
Emergency response and fire protection “shouldn’t be an after-thought,” for the project, Flory added.
Cheryl Skala directs a “Vote No” sign towards representatives of Alliant Energy during the Oct. 19, 2026, meeting. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Some of the speakers offered their own suggestions for siting the plant, including the Twin Pines Golf Course and Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, which have “plenty of space,” and land near industrial sites such as ADM.
Ultimately, commission members Tina DuBois, Brock Grenis and Donald Eddy voted to deny the rezoning request, while Griffin Kuntz, Mike Sadler II, and Samuel Kratz voted against the denial, in favor of Alliant’s proposal.
Member Joseph Sperfslage attended remotely, and would have been the tie-breaker, but somehow lost the connection to the meeting, and did not cast a vote.
The supervisors will make the final determination on the rezoning, though the Iowa Utilities Commission can override the county’s decision.
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