LE MARS, Iowa — A Chicago-based developer is planning its second wind turbine installation in Plymouth County.
Invenergy, which installed 73 wind turbines in Plymouth County several years ago and then sold them to MidAmerican Energy, plans to build another 40 to 70 turbines in the county.
The project, referred to by Invenergy as the Plymouth II Wind Energy Center, has a proposed capacity of 200 megawatts; the turbines will generate enough power for more than 80,000 homes, a company spokesperson said.
Construction on the turbines is slated to begin in 2026, the company says. Invenergy plans to seek permits from the county next year.
The turbines will face new regulatory hurdles at the county level. Last year, Plymouth County’s zoning ordinance for wind turbines was revised to increase by 75 percent the minimum setback distance between turbines and homes.
Under the updated zoning ordinance, the closest a turbine can …