Site map courtesy of NationalGrid Renewables

A solar energy company took another step closer to installing utility-scale solar panels in Greene County.

NationalGrid Renewables held an open house earlier this week at the Grand Junction Community Center. The company shared information regarding their 100-megawatt solar and 50-megawatt hour battery storage development that is located one-half mile south of Grand Junction in Junction Township. The approximate land usage is 800 acres of solar panels to generate 100-megawatts of solar energy which would then be stored and released to states outside of Iowa. 

The Minnesota-based company said the project will bring about $117,000 of tax revenue annually to the tax base of the county, along with creating about 200 temporary construction jobs and 2-3 permanent on-site full time jobs. They will also contribute about $200 per megawatt of charitable funding, which is about $20,000 annually. 

Earlier this year, the Greene County Supervisors adopted a new utility-scale solar energy ordinance that outlined certain requirements including setbacks. Greene County Environmental Administrator and Zoning Official Chuck Wenthold tells Raccoon Valley Radio now that the public open house has been held, NationalGrid Renewables will submit that report to the Greene County Board of Adjustment, which can schedule a meeting to possibly issue a conditional use permit for the project. NationalGrid Renewables will still need the overall project to be approved by the Iowa Utilities Board and they are estimating the date to be fully operational is by the end of 2024.