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Today marks the second day of a public hearing conducted by the Iowa Utilities Commission at The Historic Park Inn Hotel in Mason City.
It is also the second step for Chicago-based Ranger Power in its effort to secure state regulatory approval for a solar panel project on 2,250 acres spanning the Bath, Lake, and Mount Vernon townships south of Mason City and Clear Lake. The proposal follows action by the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors last December, when the board approved changes to the county zoning ordinance that ban large-scale wind, solar, and battery storage development in the county.
In April, Cerro Gordo County hired outside counsel—Ahlers & Cooney of Des Moines—to represent the county in the IUC proceedings. At the time, County Administrative Officer Tom Meyer told North Iowa Now that bringing in an outside law firm would allow the county to more effectively intervene in the IUC process.
“This would allow us to submit ourselves—it’s called intervene—in the process, as a party to their application process,” Meyer said. “It would allow us to, for lack of a better term, present our ordinance on how Cerro Gordo County wants to deal with large-scale renewable energy.”
Meyer added, “I did talk to the county attorney; he concurs with hiring outside counsel for this.”
Ranger Power’s goal is to complete the state permitting process by 2027 and begin construction that year, with the solar farm expected to go online in 2029.
The final day of the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. Hearings on both of the final two days run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday December 16
Clear Lake Basketball Doubleheader vs Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 5:45 PM Pregame 6 PM Tip-off 103.7 The Fox and Clear Lake Video Stream
Lake Mills Basketball Doubleheader vs Eagle Grove 6 PM Pregame 6:15 PM Tip-off Lake Mills Video Stream
West Hancock Basketball Doubleheader vs North Iowa 6 PM Pregame 6:15 PM Tip-off B103 and West Hancock Video Stream
Belmond-Klemme Basketball Doubleheader vs North Union 6 PM Pregame 6:15 PM Tip-off Belmond-Klemme Video Stream
Wednesday December 17
Waldorf Women’s Basketball vs Mount Mercy 1:45 PM Pregame 2 PM Tip-off B103
Thursday December 18
Lake Mills Boys Wrestling Quad with West Hancock, South Central Calhoun, and Northwood-Kensett 5:45 Pregame, 6 PM Start B103, West Hancock and Lake Mills Video Stream
Forest City Basketball Doubleheader vs Clear Lake 6 PM Pregame 6:15 PM Tip-off KIOW 107.3 FM, 103.7 The Fox, Forest City Video Stream, and Clear Lake Video Stream
Friday December 19
Waldorf Men’s Basketball vs Bellevue 1:45 PM Pregame 2 PM Tip-off B103
Clear Lake Basketball Doubleheader at Humboldt 5:45 PM Pregame 6 PM Tip-off 103.7 The Fox and Clear Lake Video Stream
GHV Basketball Doubleheader vs Lake Mills 6 PM Pregame 6:15 PM Tip-off GHV Video Stream
Forest City Basketball Doubleheader vs West Hancock 6 PM Pregame 6:15 PM Tip-off KIOW 107.3 FM, B103, Forest City Video Stream, and West Hancock Video Stream
Belmond-Klemme Basketball Doubleheader at North Iowa 6 PM Pregame 6:15 PM Tip-off Belmond-Klemme Video Stream
Saturday December 20
Ron Dodd Boys Wrestling Invitational at Northwood-Kensett 8:45 AM Pregame 9 AM Start Northwood-Kensett Video Stream
Sunday December 21
ISU Men’s Basketball vs Long Beach State 4 PM Pregame 5 PM Tip-off KIOW 107.3 FM
