Amanda Rink, Editor
Kyle Handy of Twin Rivers Exploration is scheduled to discuss an amendment to the County Road Use Agreement with the Wright County Board of Supervisors, this time hoping to re-open talks around the 250-foot setback rule.
Twin Rivers Exploration is leading seismic testing efforts across Iowa in search of natural hydrogen, what some consider to be an untapped clean energy source. Wright County, with its unique geological features, is a key site in Twin Rivers’ exploration.
The company uses advanced “mini-vibe” tech to send vibrations into the ground and create underground maps, searching for signs of hydrogen thousands of feet below. Current county agreements with the company restrict live seismic testing within 250 feet of any county asset, like drainage tiles or bridges.
Twin Rivers previously asked to reduce that buffer to 50 feet. The board declined, citing potential risks to infrastructure and lack of clear local benefits as current administration has cut funding to clean energy research and staff to ensure the setback requirements are followed.
“From our perspective, the data could help open doors to renewable energy and economic growth,” Handy told the board during a past meeting.
Despite this, concerns linger among the Board of Supervisors and local landowners, especially about possible disruptions to drainage systems that are absolutely vital to agriculture in Wright County. Still, for residents like those near Vincent, where the land’s magnetic anomaly has sparked decades of interest, data, if they could get their hands on it, is valuable.
Monday’s conversation could prove pivotal not only for Wright County, but for its role in a larger energy transformation.
