Cerro Gordo County is suing the state to block approval of a massive solar project that could power tens of thousands of homes.
The River City Energy Project, from Chicago-based Ranger Power, seeks to built a 500 megawatt solar farm in rural Cerro Gordo County. The project would be built on more than 2,000 acres of mostly agricultural land and would be, by far, the largest solar development in Iowa. The state’s largest current plant, which opened in 2025, generates less than half as much electricity at 200 megawatts.
Ranger Power applied to the Iowa Utilities Commission for permits in May 2025, and received its generating certificate in April 2026, according to court filings. Cerro Gordo County had opposed the application, arguing that the project did not comply with the county’s zoning and comprehensive plan. Power Ranger, in its application, accused the county of imposing a “de facto moratorium” on solar development and claimed obtaining zoning permits would be “an impossibility.”
The county, in its petition, said Ranger could have applied for a modification or variance to zoning rules. However, in 2024, the county adopted an ordinance that effectively banned large-scale wind, solar and battery developments.
The county is asking a judge to reverse the commission’s decision in its petition, filed July 13 in Polk County court.
While the commission is not required to comply with local zoning ordinances by statute, the county argues it has done so in prior cases and failed to provide a valid reason to diverge from that precedent. The county also faults the commission for failing to adhere to Iowa law prioritizing the preservation of farmland, noting that alternative technologies are much less land-intensive.
“Because the IUC applied the wrong legal standard, it never required River City to present evidence comparing the economics and land use impacts of its proposed solar facility with alternative generating technologies, including natural gas generation,” the county argued.
The project is expected to cost about $500 million to build the Iowa project and would create at least 200 construction jobs, the company said. Power Ranger did not answer questions about the project’s expected timeline.
The utilities commission declined to comment on the lawsuit. In an emailed statement, Cerro Gordo County Chief Administrative Officer Tom Mayer said the county has not taken a definitive position on the River City project, despite the 2024 zoning ordinance.
“The County has not predetermined whether the River City solar development should be approved. No zoning application has been submitted, and it would be premature to speculate on the outcome of any future request. Any application would be reviewed under the applicable ordinance standards, based on the specific proposal, supporting information, and public input,” he said. “The County’s position is that the project must proceed through all legally required state and local review processes.”
Ranger Power, which is not a party to the lawsuit, said in a statement it believes the commission’s decision was correct.
“This approximately $500 million investment in Cerro Gordo County is estimated to generate over $23 million in cumulative tax revenue that will directly support local schools, first responders, and local farmers,” development manager Hope Winkler said. “We look forward to seeing the Commission’s final order be upheld, allowing us to provide affordable Iowa-grown energy and deliver these essential benefits to the community.”
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa county sues to stop massive solar farm project. Here’s why.
Reporting by William Morris, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By William Morris, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
