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CEDAR RAPIDS — It was a clear, cool night in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, but Rich Patterson was thinking about the harsh and heated possibility of a future drought.

Speaking at a public meeting organized by the Iowa Utilities Commission, Patterson pressed representatives from Duane Arnold Energy Center owner NextEra Energy about the nuclear plant’s water needs and how that could affect the larger Linn County water supply.

NextEra i s seeking regulatory approval to restart the Duane Arnold plant near Palo by early 2029, and company representatives gathered Thursday to hear public feedback on the potential restart and field questions from residents like Patterson.

At some point, “there will be

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