CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A report commissioned by the Cedar Rapids Airport Commission recommends that Alliant Energy find an alternative site for its proposed natural gas plant.
The report was released by airport officials on Monday. It mandates that airport operators preserve land use compatibility.
The report says this is necessary for ensuring the safety of aircraft, minimizing public disruptions, meeting eligibility requirements for grants, and compiling to airport design standards.
Alliant is looking to potentially build the plant in the area of 76th Avenue SW near Fairfax, positioning it just a few miles away from the Eastern Iowa Airport’s main runway. This would cause significant disruptions to airport operations, according to the report.
Emissions from the stacks, such as thermal plumes and smoke, could enter the business jet traffic pattern, which raises potential safety concerns related to visibility and turbulence.
The report also states, “The City of Fairfax zoning code restricts structural heights to 45 feet, while the proposed stacks reach 250 feet, far exceeding allowable limits…As a result, the development could jeopardize the airport’s eligibility for federal funding under grant assurances and introduce new hazards to business jet operations.”
“You’re not maintaining your grant assurances. That’s a federal requirement of every grant we sign. It could very much jeopardize our ability to compete in federal discretionary grants, so it could dramatically change how we develop the airport going forward,” Eastern Iowa Airport Director Marty Lenss said in July.
“Given the safety concerns and regulatory conflicts associated with the proposed utility plant, local officials should take all reasonable steps to restrict its construction at the proposed site to preserve safe airport operations and maintain eligibility for federal funding,” the report continued.
Alliant has said it’s open to discussing other sites for construction.
“To ensure a cost-effective, reliable solution for our customers, we are assessing several locations – including a site currently owned by Alliant Energy in Fairfax,” a spokesperson said in August.
Lenss previously said Alliant Energy is planning to move forward with the Iowa Utilities Commission in October.
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