PALO, Iowa (KCRG) – The Linn County Board of Supervisors has approved its second reading of a Rezoning Agreement for the Duane Arnold Energy Center.
The approval is one step in the process to reopen the nuclear power facility.
NextEra Energy mainly plans to use the facility to power a nearby Google data center.
The third and final reading will take place at 10 a.m. January 14.
Language in the agreement shapes the role the nuclear power plant would have in the community.
It was decommissioned in 2020 in response to economic concerns but closed early because of damage the facility sustained in the 2020 Derecho.
As the Duane Arnold project continues, Iowa is launching the Iowa Nuclear Energy Task Force. The goal of the team would be to regularly assess nuclear energy in the state.
Several community members spoke up during Monday’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting, nearly all in favor of the plan.
In the agreement language Linn County and NextEra Energy commit to ensuring the plant benefits the community.
“Today is a good first step,” Supervisor Kirsten Running-Marquardt said. “We’re putting Linn County residents first.”
NextEra would be reimbursing Linn County for costs related to emergency preparations for the plant.
“We’re able to make sure that NextEra is going to be providing their fair share,” Running-Marquardt said.
The company is investing nearly half a million dollars for start-up costs to the county and then almost $2 million, increasing annually for county expenses.
“[The host community agreement] will provide reliable infrastructure, updated or enhanced public safety efforts and economic support all without being a burden to the local taxpayers,” Bill Orlove with NextEra said.
There will also be an effort to keep the impacts from the plant local, including the 400 long-term jobs predicted to come from the facility.
“It shows that we’re being good neighbors here, we have a really good, trustworthy partnership with Linn County,” Orlove said. ”This host community agreement is really keeping us accountable.”
NextEra would like to open the plant in late 2028-2029. Getting the plant back up and running is a big undertaking for NextEra, with a series of permits and approvals required before opening; ultimately, they approval from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is required to open up shop.
NextEra and Google have a 25 year agreement.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.