John Huff with MidAmerican Energy Co. told the supervisors that the Lundgren Wind Farm repowering project in southern Webster County is wrapping up and on track to be completed before the end of the calendar year.

“We’ve had a very successful repowering project at Lundgren,” said Huff. “The turbines are mostly all topped off. There’s some work still being done on the inside of some of the turbines, but that’s coming to a close. Most of our construction crew are moving on to another repowering project.”

Huff said that they may need to complete restoration work in 2026 if grass that is planted this fall doesn’t come up as they’d like, but otherwise noted that the project is coming to a close.

The Lundgren Wind Farm Repowering Project began in late April with construction of 107 wind turbines.

-Messenger file photo
MidAmerican Energy Wind Operations Supervisor Bill Nobisch explains wind power during an October 2014 tour of the Lundgren Wind project, part of MidAmerican’s Wind 8 initiative. The Lundgren Wind Farm repowering project in southern Webster County is wrapping up and on track to be completed before the end of the calendar year.

The supervisors also heard from Summit Carbon Solutions Ag and Stakeholder Relations Director JD Myers and Chief Operating Officer Mike Higgins on an update on the potential pipeline project.

“We’re here to support agriculture,” said Myers. “I farm and the reason I’m involved in the project is because I see the value that it adds to ethanol, and that comes back to the farmer and the corn.”

Myers noted that changes have been made to Summit’s landowner and community partner programs.

“We can do an up front easement payment if the farmer or landowner signs the easement,” said Myers. “We can do an up front payment. We can spread it out over five or 10 years for tax planning.”

Myers noted that some farmers had asked for royalties from production on their land, so Summit added that option for landowners as well. Annual stakeholder payments would also be made to landowners per foot of pipeline on the farm land.

Myers noted that for surveying, landowners would get at least 72 hours notice as well as a $500 payment for allowing Summit Carbon Solutions on their land.

Webster County resident Chris Hayek, who was in attendance and has land that would be affected by the pipeline, noted that it also requires a court order in addition to the notice.

Myers said that Summit Carbon Solutions has also committed to providing a $110,000 community grant to be paid out before production — $50,000 payment for emergency response and training and an additional $60,000 for the 60 miles of pipeline in the county. Myers also noted that, if approved, Summit Carbon Solutions would pay approximately $4 million in property taxes annually to Webster County.

Supervisor Austin Hayek asked Myers for clarification on the community grant as the packet provided to the supervisors noted that the grant is based on the number of easements signed.

“We don’t control whether or not people sign off on those,” said Hayek. “When I read this it sounds like I’m expected to help you get voluntary easements to help the county get more money. I have heartburn from that.”

“We don’t expect the supervisors to play any role in that,” said Myers.

“But it appears that there is incentive to the county for the community grant based on the voluntary easements so it’s in the county’s best interest to help make sure you get voluntary easements based on the language you have here,” said Hayek. “It feels like you’re asking us to help you get those easements. Part of my heartburn is that you’re telling us that you’ll give us more money if we help you get these voluntary easements, but that’s not my job as a supervisor.”

“Our view was for the county to share in our success,” said Higgins. “In no way are we wanting to put you in any position for you have to put in any inputs. It’s if we were to get more voluntary easements than the county would share in our success.”

“Our shared success is whether you build it or not,” said Hayek. “You already mentioned the grant, the property taxes that would go to the school and the community college.”

Multiple residents including Chris Hayek, Daphne Wilwerth, Nancy Smallenberg, and Alan Hayek all spoke out against the project during the supervisors meeting.

“This is a property rights issue,” said Alan Hayek.

The Summit Carbon Solutions project is currently awaiting approval of permits in South Dakota and North Dakota before it is able to move forward in Iowa.

Also at the supervisors meeting, Webster County Director of Veterans Affairs, Dan Lewandowski presented multiple reports to the board noting that in fiscal year 2024, compensation claims brought in $11,708,633 to Webster County with the VA clinic also bringing in more than $20 million.

“That’s new money coming into the local economy,” said Lewandowski.

For fiscal year 2025, $10,948.67 was paid out to veterans in need of burial assistance, rent, and utilities, which Lewandowski noted is well under budget.

The supervisors also approved signing a letter of support to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services for LifeWorks Community Services to serve up to five people in eight 24-hour sites within Webster County.

Summit Carbon Solutions Open House

Nov. 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Webster County Fairgrounds