"Facing staunch local opposition and federal roadblocks, a new wind project in Iowa is teetering on the brink, despite growing power demand."

"SHENANDOAH, Iowa — First viewed from a pickup truck driving south on U.S. 59, the wind turbines seem small and delicate.

The newly constructed wind farm is a matter of pride for Gregg Connell, the man behind the wheel of the truck. He is a former two-term mayor of this southwestern Iowa city and an official with the local chamber of commerce.

The turbines are ​“beautiful,” Connell said, looking out the driver’s-side window. ​“You’re capturing energy, you’re helping the environment.”

But the sight of a new wind farm is increasingly rare, even in Iowa, a state that trails only Texas in electricity production from wind."

Dan Gearino and Anika Jane Beamer report for Inside Climate News February 3, 2026. [2]