Iowa City to Apply Road Grant and Hire Engineer for Wind Energy Project

ICAD Group has given tours of the area to eight wind energy companies during the past year

From the Corridor Business Journal

Iowa City is moving ahead with plans to attract wind energy companies to the south side of town.

City councilors in December approved annexation and rezoning of 179 acres of land at 420th Street, west of Taft Avenue and northeast of the intersection of Scott Boulevard and Highway 6. The land was owned by the Veronica Prybil estate.

The land is next to the Scott Six Industrial Park, which includes businesses such as Procter & Gamble, Oral B and International Automotive Components. The property is now zoned for industrial use and will be marketed to supply chain companies that produce parts for renewable energy-related companies such as Acciona Energy in West Branch and Clipper Windpower in Cedar Rapids.

This week, councilors voted in favor of applying for a Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE) grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation. The grant would be used to fund half of the $3.9 million reconstruction of 420th Street east of Highway 6.

Councilors also agreed to hire Foth Infrastructure and Environmental to provide consulting services for the project. The city expects to pay $619,500 for the services, which include $95,000 for sanitary sewer, $239,500 for street improvements and $205,000 for industrial development. The city will pay for it using general obligation bond proceeds and an interdepartmental loan.

The city plans to convert the lot into a shovel-ready site with utilities and infrastructure connected to the property. That work will likely take a few months to complete.

The industrial park is part of an overall effort by the region to create a wind energy industry cluster, from makers of fiberglass to electronic control boards used in wind turbines. Locating near Acciona and Clipper makes sense, because shipping major turbine parts across the country, especially with high gas prices, can cost up to $100,000.

The Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) Group has given tours of the area to eight wind energy companies during the past year. The organization hopes to attract established wind-producing companies from Europe to the area. Acciona, for example, is based in Spain.