Scott County Board directs attorney to intervene against CIPCO power plant application
July 16, 2026 | Scott County, Iowa
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The Scott County Board of Supervisors on July 16 voted unanimously to direct the county attorney to intervene before the Iowa Utilities Commission in opposition to CIPCO’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience, Use, and Necessity to build a natural gas-fired electric generating facility in Hickory Grove Township.
Chair John Maxwell said he had met with Scott County Senior Assistant Attorney Kristina Lyon about the matter before bringing the resolution to the board. The resolution, adopted as presented, states the board considered CIPCO’s earlier zoning application and public comments and now seeks to register its opposition in the state permit proceeding.
The board’s action does not itself block the proposed plant; it authorizes the county’s legal team to file pleadings and participate in the utilities commission process on behalf of Scott County. The resolution describes the site as prime agricultural land and cites the board’s prior rejection of a local zoning change requested by CIPCO.
The resolution was moved by Supervisor Beck and seconded by Supervisor Dickson; the roll call vote was recorded as all ayes. The board directed the Scott County Attorney to act “timely” in the matter as the permit process proceeds.
The county did not specify in the meeting minutes what legal arguments will be advanced before the utilities commission or whether the county will seek intervenor status with full party rights or limited participation. The county’s next procedural steps will be determined by the attorney’s filings in the Iowa Utilities Commission docket.
Chair John Maxwell said he had met with Scott County Senior Assistant Attorney Kristina Lyon about the matter before bringing the resolution to the board. The resolution, adopted as presented, states the board considered CIPCO’s earlier zoning application and public comments and now seeks to register its opposition in the state permit proceeding.
The board’s action does not itself block the proposed plant; it authorizes the county’s legal team to file pleadings and participate in the utilities commission process on behalf of Scott County. The resolution describes the site as prime agricultural land and cites the board’s prior rejection of a local zoning change requested by CIPCO.
The resolution was moved by Supervisor Beck and seconded by Supervisor Dickson; the roll call vote was recorded as all ayes. The board directed the Scott County Attorney to act “timely” in the matter as the permit process proceeds.
The county did not specify in the meeting minutes what legal arguments will be advanced before the utilities commission or whether the county will seek intervenor status with full party rights or limited participation. The county’s next procedural steps will be determined by the attorney’s filings in the Iowa Utilities Commission docket.
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