SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – For over a year, the Woodbury County Planning and Zoning Commission has discussed, and held public meetings, to explore nuclear energy as a potential energy source for the county.
Tuesday night, the commission’s recommendation went before the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors during the first of three public hearings.
In July of 2024, Woodbury County supervisors asked the planning and zoning commission to look into nuclear energy for the county.
Board Chair Daniel Bittenger shared that the request came after the county lost an opportunity to bring in a major manufacturer because of the county’s limited electrical output.
Over the last year, the planning and zoning commission held six public hearings to review a zoning ordinance for nuclear energy facilities and nuclear waste storage.
After hearing from the public, they decided to make the following changes to the ordinance:
The public notification radius for property owners should be expanded from 500 feet to 10 miles.“Nuclear energy facilities” and “Nuclear waste storage” should be added as conditional uses in General Industrial zoning, but be prohibited in all other zoning districts.“Nuclear energy facilities” and “nuclear waste storage” should be defined and include compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements.
It states in the recommendation put before the board that:
“It is imperative to assert that these recommended amendments must not be construed as an endorsement of nuclear energy-related uses by the Zoning Commission. This recommendation is only intended to enhance regulatory clarity and public engagement.”
County leaders said this is a way for them to stay proactive and create regulations in case a company wants to build a nuclear energy facility in the county.
“It was brought up in the meeting that Woodbury County doesn’t have the ultimate control of blocking a nuclear electrical generation site. The nuclear regulatory codes and the federal government really have the say on whether someone can or cannot,” said Bittinger. “Woodbury County was just wanting to make sure that our ordinance gave us the ability to have a voice to say no, we don’t want that, and to be able to be on the forefront of preventing anything.”
County leaders insisted this possible change doesn’t mean there is a plan to build a nuclear plant, right now.
During Tuesday’s public hearing, some residents shared their concerns about the possibility of a nuclear plant in the county.
Those concerns included possible health risks and the environment. Plus, some worried about the disposal of radioactive waste and public safety.
“I don’t understand why this is even being considered when across the United States, power plants, nuclear power plants are being closed instead of opened. You have lots of sun here for solar; you have lots of wind, so you have a variety of ways that you can generate electricity. This seems like going backwards instead of forwards,” said Rita Iverson, Sioux City Resident.
The board unanimously passed the first reading of the zoning ordinance change.
The next two public hearings are scheduled for 4:40 pm on July 29, and August 5, at the Woodbury County Courthouse. If residents can’t attend, the board still wants them to reach out to express their opinion.
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