Charlie Nichols is the Director of Planning and Development for Linn County, one of the most populous and fastest growing areas in Iowa. Before coming to Linn County, he served as a Planner for the City of Cedar Rapids and as Planning Director for the City of Burlington (Iowa). In 2020 he oversaw an overhaul of the county’s zoning code for utility-scale renewable energy projects. In 2021 Linn County approved a 750 acre solar development, and in 2022 the county approved an application for an approximately 1,000 acre solar development next to a decommissioned nuclear plant which incorporated 75 MW of battery storage. Outside of work, he enjoys tending to his backyard chickens and working on home renovation projects with his wife and two children. Charlie holds an M.S. in Urban Planning from the University of Iowa.