The Johnson County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance Thursday that will allow for the construction of a commercial wind-energy facility on county land.

The supervisors approved the third reading of the ordinance during their weekly formal meeting.

Supervisors met with officials from PNE Wind USA — a German wind-energy company that has been active in the United States for nearly three years — on May 11 to discuss the possibility of building a wind farm near Solon.

PNE Wind greenfield developer Keith Kurtz told The Daily Iowan in May that the company will pay for the farm and all the energy will stay in Johnson County.

The supervisors also approved an ordinance exempting some greenhouses and hoop buildings from county building codes.

— by Jordan Mickle