Scott County residents voice concerns over proposed natural gas power plant

ELDRIDGE, Iowa (KWQC) — The group Concerned Citizens of Scott County held a public meeting Wednesday with residents raising concerns about the environmental and health aspects of a proposal to build a natural gas power plant near Maysville.

The company over the plant, Central Iowa Power Cooperative, says the facility is needed to meet peak energy demands.

“As a state, if we can’t build generation, we can’t serve the needs of those that are here, and in the state of Iowa as a utility, we have a mandate to serve everyone that falls within our areas,” said Kerry Koonce, vice president of communications and corporate relations for CIPCO.

“We need to be able to continue to build more generation to serve Iowans, or there won’t be the electricity that they need,” Koonce said.

The meeting is being held at the Scott County Eldridge Library from 6 to 7 p.m. A resident physician and a retired meteorologist are speaking about their concerns regarding the plant’s impact on the community.

Plant details and community concerns

CIPCO wants to build a 240-megawatt natural gas-fired electric generation facility in rural Scott County.

The project is designed to power CIPCO’s rural electric cooperatives across Iowa.

“We will never run this plant 100%. It’s topped out at 40% max, and that would be in a year with extreme weather conditions in both the summer and the winter and those kinds of things,” Koonce said. “And that is to continue to meet our levels that DNR will set.”

However, some Scott County residents are concerned the plant could impact the environment.

“What I worry about is primarily worsening asthma, COPD, and hospitalizations from respiratory illnesses, especially after the construction of a new plant,” said Ross Burandt, a resident physician at MercyOne Genesis Family Medicine.

Health and environmental impacts

The plant will produce nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides, among other pollutants.

“What basically happens is some of these particulates can get into the air and cause people who already have respiratory disease to basically have flare-ups,” Burandt said.

CIPCO says the exact numbers of pollutants that would be emitted into the air are not near the level considered to be dangerous.

The EPA says there isn’t one set “danger zone” distance around a natural gas power plant, because impacts depend on things like emissions, weather, and wind. In general, pollution can be highest close to the plant (often within about 1–2 miles), but harmful effects can also show up many miles downwind as pollutants spread and form things like ozone and fine particles. These pollutants can affect people’s health (especially breathing problems and some cancer risks) and can also harm the environment.

Health impacts from natural gas plants and related infrastructure have been reported at distances of 10 miles or more, and Eldridge is about 8 miles away from the proposed site.

“Where weather comes in or climate is looking at where the prevailing winds are and where those emissions are going to tend to blow,” said Ray Wulf, a retired meteorologist. “So if you’re within a couple of miles of the plant, it can really be problematic.”

Wulf notes that local winds usually blow west to east and south to north, meaning emissions would most often be carried in those directions from the plant.

Energy portfolio considerations

Burandt says the solution is to build a solar plant, which is about 50% of CIPCO’s portfolio. However, Koonce said the company needs a mix of generation sources.

“You need a mix in your generation portfolio, and that’s something that we have always believed,” Koonce said. “And this is a peaking plant. It is designed to complement our wind and solar portfolio so that when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, those resources can be used. But when they’re not and we need more generation from other sources, this one can come on quickly and support everyone.”

Next steps

The project is still in its early stages. The Scott County Planning and Zoning Board has approved an ordinance change to allow for thermoelectric generation facilities, but the county board of supervisors still needs to vote on it.

After that, CIPCO would still need to apply for a special-use permit. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Utility Commission will also weigh in.

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