SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / IA / Kossuth

Kossuth County, IA — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Local solar ordinance barriers, board sentiment, and utility policies that affect development timelines and risk.

68.2
Risk Grade
Poor
Active solar moratorium repeatedly extended since Sep 2024; chairman Kyle Stecker leading moratorium process; board has not adopted final regulations; no solar CUPs available during moratorium; north Iowa agricultural community with strong opposition to large-scale solar
Assessment Snapshot
Population
14,154
State Rank
#25
Compliance
55%
Trajectory
55

Moratorium Status

⚠ Active Moratorium
Active — Extended Moratorium (Sep 2024, extended through at least Mar 2026)

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
None codified. No confirmed county-specific solar ordinance.
Zoning Mechanism
Kossuth County Planning & Zoning: CUP/SUP in Agricultural district.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Generally receptive — agricultural community; wind heritage
Basis for Assessment
N Iowa agricultural; Algona area; largest IA county by area; active wind/solar belt; local CUP
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
Kyle Stecker | R | Chair, Board of Supervisors | Active moratorium advocate | Board of Supervisors | 3 members | Algona, Iowa | 4-yr staggered terms | Partisan elections

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
MISO / MidAmerican Energy (MEC) zone
Utilities
MidAmerican Energy, Northeast Iowa Power Coop
State Permitting Process
Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) generating certificate required for projects ≥25 MW (Iowa Code §478). Projects <25 MW: local CUP/SUP under county/township zoning governs. No statewide preemption of local ordinances — Iowa is a strong local-control state. County boards have full authority to restrict or deny solar below 25 MW threshold. Active local opposition movement in many agricultural counties; several moratoriums and restrictive ordinances enacted 2021–2024. IUB certificate does not override local zoning for sub-25 MW projects. MISO interconnection territory statewide.
State Incentives
Iowa Renewable Energy Standard: minimal (105 MW aggregate mandate met since late 1990s). Net metering: IUC-regulated utilities (MidAmerican Energy, Alliant IPL) offer net metering under Iowa Code §476A; programs vary by cooperative. Property tax exemption: 5-year exemption for solar equipment added via IA Code §427B.26. MidAmerican Energy planning 800 MW new solar at ~6 IA sites by 2028 (filed IUC Feb 17 2025). Utility: MidAmerican Energy serves Des Moines metro, western/central IA; Alliant Energy/IPL serves eastern/southern IA; rural areas served by 60+ electric cooperatives.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Kossuth County (Algona area), north-central Iowa. Alliant Energy (IPL) serves. Iowa's largest county by area; dominant wind energy county. Growing solar pipeline alongside wind. Flat terrain ideal.
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed IUC denials for Kossuth County, Iowa. Iowa 5-year property tax exemption applies. No state siting preemption — county zoning controls.

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Last verified: Mar 2026 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes