Bitter Root Wind Project Public Information and Environmental Review - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Bitter Root Wind Project Public Information and Environmental Review - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Bitter Root Wind Project Public Information and Environmental Review Scoping Meeting Canby Elementary School February 27, 2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc Bitter Root Wind Project - Purpose Meeting Purpose

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Bitter Root Wind Project Public Information and Environmental Review Scoping Meeting

Canby Elementary School February 27, 2018

Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc

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SLIDE 2

Bitter Root Wind Project - Purpose

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 2

Meeting Purpose

  • Explain the Commission’s application review process
  • Provide information about the proposed project
  • Receive comments on the environmental review
  • Answer questions about the application review process and project
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Bitter Root Wind Project - Agenda

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 3

  • 1. Overview of Meeting and Permit Process

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

  • 2. Project Information

Flying Cow Wind, LLC

  • 3. Environmental Review Process

Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review & Analysis

  • 4. Citizen Comments and Questions
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Bitter Root Wind Project - Process

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 4

Large Power Plant Certificate of Need Process

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SLIDE 5

Bitter Root Wind Project - Process

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 5

Large Wind Energy Conversion System Site Permitting Process

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SLIDE 6

Bitter Root Wind Project – Commission Overview

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 6

State Agency

  • 5 Commissioners, 50 staff

Regulates

  • Permitting for power plants, pipelines, transmission lines
  • Local and in-state long distance telephone companies
  • Investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities – rates and services
  • Resource Planning and Reliability
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SLIDE 7

Bitter Root Wind Project – Project Overview

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 7

  • On October 19 and November 9, 2017, Flying Cow Wind,

LLC submitted applications to the Commission to construct and operate a large wind energy conversion system.

  • In order to construct the Bitter Root Wind Project, the

applicant must be granted a certificate of need and a site permit from the Commission.

  • The project would be on approximately 22,888 acres in

Florida, Fortier, and Norman townships in Yellow Medicine County.

  • The proposed project would entail construction of 37

wind turbines for a combined nameplate capacity of 152 megawatts (MW).

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SLIDE 8

Bitter Root Wind Project – Who’s Here?

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 8

PUC Energy Facilities Planner – manages the application review process,

assists in building the official record, and informs Commissioners on impacts of decision alternatives

PUC Public Advisor – helps public participate in certificate of need and site

permit process

Important: Commission staff is a neutral party that does not give legal advice or act as an advocate

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SLIDE 9

Bitter Root Wind Project – Decision Considerations

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 9

  • Potential impacts of the project, proposed mitigative measures, and

any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided, in the following areas:

  • 1. Demographics, including people, homes, and businesses
  • 2. Public services and infrastructure
  • 3. Public health and safety, including air traffic, electromagnetic fields, and

security and traffic

  • 4. Wetlands, vegetation, wildlife, and rare or unique natural resources
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Bitter Root Wind Project – Timeline

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 10

Permitting Stage ESTIMATED Date Application Filed October 19, 2017 Application Accepted January 4, 2018 Public Information Meeting February 27, 2018 Comment Period Closes March 19, 2018 Preliminary Draft Site Permit Release March 23, 2018 Commission Decision on Draft Site Permit April 19, 2018 Public and Evidentiary Hearings May 10, 2018 Public Hearing Comment Period Closes May 22, 2018 Administrative Law Judge Report July 19, 2018 Commission Decision September 20, 2018

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Bitter Root Wind Project – Public Comments

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 11

The Commission is seeking comments on the proposed changes.

Comments accepted until March 19, 2018

Please include the Commission’s Docket Numbers (17-676 and 17-749) in all communication.

  • What potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project should be considered in

the environmental document and the draft site permit?

  • What are the possible methods to minimize, mitigate, or avoid potential impacts of the proposed

project?

  • Are there any unique characteristics of the proposed site or the project that should be considered?
  • Are there any items missing or mischaracterized in the certificate of need or site permit

applications?

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Bitter Root Wind Project – Submitting Comments

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 12

Online: mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/#comment Email: bill.storm@state.mn.us U.S. Mail: William Storm, Environmental Review Manager Minnesota Department of Commerce 85 7th Place East, Suite 500

  • St. Paul MN 55101

Phone: 651-539-1844 Important: Comments will be made available to the public via the Public Utilities Commission’s and the Department of Commerce’s websites, except in limited circumstances consistent with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Personally identifying information is not edited or deleted from submissions.

Four ways to submit comments (all forms have equal weight):

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Bitter Root Wind Project – Contacts

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 13

Cezar Panait, Staff Analyst William Storm, Environmental Review Manager Sean Flannery, Director, Permitting, Americas Charley Bruce, Public Advisor Flying Cow Wind, LLC

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SLIDE 14

Thank You

Cezar Panait

Cezar.Panait@state.mn.us 651-201-2207

3/1/2018 Commission Docket CN-17-676/WS-17-749 | https://mn.gov/puc 14

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BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

2018 Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. Proprietary and Confidential 15

RES Vision & History

1898 – Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland 1923 – Wembley Stadium, London 2012 – Olympic Stadium, London 250 MW Cedar Point Wind Project 120 MW Comanche Solar Project 19.8MW / 7.8MWh Jake Energy Storage Project

Our Vision: A future where everyone has access to affordable low carbon energy.

  • Affiliated with UK-based

Sir Robert McAlpine Group

  • Built on a foundation of

engineering & construction

  • Active in renewables since 1982
  • Expertise in wind, solar, energy

storage, & T&D

  • Utility-scale & distributed

energy solutions

  • Over 12 GW (150+ projects)

constructed around the world

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BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

More than

10,000 MW

  • f North American

Proj ect Construction Experience

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BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

  • 200MW wind proj ect in

Dodge and Mower Counties

  • Completed in 2015
  • Developed and constructed

by RES

  • 100MW wind proj ect

under development in Rock County

  • S

lated for construction in 2020)

Minnesota Experience

2018 Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. Proprietary and Confidential

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SLIDE 18

BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

2008

  • Land

acquisition begins

2009

  • Minnesota site

permit acquired

2010

  • Proj ect put on

hold

  • Eventually sold

to RES

2015

  • Development

& land acquisition continues by RES

2016-2017

  • Proj ect

boundary shifts to entirely Minnesota

Today

  • S

ite permit application submitted, hearing in early 2018

Bitter Root Proj ect History

2018 Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. Proprietary and Confidential

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BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

Environmental constraints:

  • Environmentally

sensitive areas

  • Environmentally

unbuildable areas (wetlands, low areas, etc.)

Considerations for Determining Proj ect Layout

S etbacks (required by law):

  • From roads
  • From homes
  • From nonparticipating

landowners

  • From environmentally

sensitive areas

  • From airports

Accessibility:

  • Wind resource &

existing road access

2018 Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. Proprietary and Confidential

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SLIDE 20

BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

20

  • Up to 152 MW
  • 37 turbines
  • Four miles west of Canby
  • Proj ect area 22,888 acres
  • Anticipated completion

December 2019

2018 Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. Proprietary and Confidential

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BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

Environmental studies: completed

  • Avian/ eagle use surveys
  • Raptor/ eagle nest surveys
  • Bat acoustic surveys
  • Habitat mapping
  • Wetland surveys
  • Aviation study
  • Telecommunication studies
  • NTIA radio frequency clearance
  • Cultural resource inventory
  • S
  • und and shadow flicker studies
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SLIDE 22

BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

  • Prairie protection &

management plan

  • Consultation with

federal, state, & local officials

  • Transmission line

routing & studies

Environmental studies: ongoing

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SLIDE 23

BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

Federal

  • F

AA – Determination of No Hazard

  • US

ACE – wetland delineation approval, j urisdictional determination, & S ection 404 nationwide permit S tate

  • PUC – S

ite Permit for LWECS

  • S

HPO – cultural resources review

  • DNR – License to cross public lands & water
  • MPCA - stormwater permit
  • DOT – tall structure permits
  • BS

WR – Wetland Conservation Act approval

23

Y ellow Medicine County

  • Road use agreement (in coordination with

Florida, Fortier, and Norman townships)

  • Driveway & utility crossing permits
  • Moving & overwidth/ overweight permits
  • Building permits
  • S

eptic tank permit

Anticipated Permits and Approvals

2018 Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. Proprietary and Confidential

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SLIDE 24

BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

24

  • All other permits required prior

to construction – Late 2018

  • S

tart of construction – Early 2019

  • Proj ect commissioned – Dec. 2019

Project Permitting Timeline

  • Offtake agreement – S

pring 2018

  • Interconnection Agreement –

Fall 2018

  • MN PUC S

ite Permit – Fall 2018

2018 Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. Proprietary and Confidential

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BITTER ROOT WIND ENERGY PROJECT

  • Produces enough energy to power 57,500 average Minnesota households each year.
  • Estimated $690,000 in annual taxes paid to the local community.
  • Estimated 4-6 jobs for the life of the proj ect in Y

ellow Medicine County.

  • 150+ construction jobs, such as electrical, excavating, concrete,

and drain tile.

  • $1,000,000+ in annual payments to local landowners.
  • Increases the region’s tax and employment base over the long-term.
  • S

ited to avoid adverse impacts to avian and other natural resources.

  • Responds to increasing regional demand for renewable energy.

Wind Project Benefits

2018 Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. Proprietary and Confidential

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SLIDE 26

BITTER ROOT MW Wind Proj ect

Environmental Report Scoping & Public Information Meeting

Canby, MN – February 27, 2018

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Welcome

  • Project

▫ The applicant’s proposed project

  • Process

▫ How the state reviews the project

  • Public Participation

▫ Your voice in the review process

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SLIDE 28
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SLIDE 29

Applicant Contact

Sean Flannery

(612) 455-8449, Sean.Flannery@res-group.com RES 330 2nd Avenue South, Ste. 820 Minneapolis, MN 55401

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SLIDE 30
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SLIDE 31

CN Milestones

Action Schedule

Application Filed 10/ 19/ 2017 Application Accepted 01/ 12/ 2018 Scoping Meeting 02/ 27/ 2018 Comment Period End 03/ 19/ 2018 ER Scoping Decision March 23, 2018 ER Issued April 23, 2018 Public Hearing May 10, 2018 Certificate Decision

  • Sept. 20, 2018
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SLIDE 32
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SLIDE 33

S ite Permit Milestones

Action Schedule

Application Filed 11/ 9/ 2017 Application Accepted 01/ 30/ 2018 Information Meeting 02/ 27/ 2018 Comment Period End 03/ 19/ 2018 Draft Permit Preliminary March 23, 2018 Draft Permit Issued April 19, 2018 Public Hearing May 10, 2018 Site Permit Decision

  • Sept. 20 2018
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SLIDE 34
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SLIDE 35

Public Comment Opportunities

  • The Scoping/ Inform ation Meeting
  • Public Hearing in Local Area
  • Com m ission Hearing in St. Paul
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SLIDE 36

ER S coping Comments

Minnesota Rule 78 49.140 0 , subp. 6

Alternatives and im pacts. A person desiring that a particular alternative to the proposed project or a possible adverse impact of the project be considered in the environmental report shall identify the alternative or impact to be included, provide an explanation of why the alternative

  • r impact should be included in the environmental report, and submit all supporting

information the person wants the commissioner to consider…

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SLIDE 37

Draft Permit Comments

  • What issues should be considered in the development of a draft

site permit for this project?

  • Are there unique characteristics of the proposed site or project

that should be considered?

  • Are there items missing or mischaracterized in the Site Permit

Application?

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SLIDE 38

ER S coping/ Draft Permit Comments Deadline

Monday, March 19, 20 18

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SLIDE 39

Proj ect Notice List

Sign up to get Project notices at: m n.gov/ com m erce/ energyfacilities / Docket.htm l?Id=34766

  • r sign up tonight!
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SLIDE 40

Department Contact

William Cole Storm , Environm ental Manager

(651) 539-1844, bill.storm@state.mn.us Department of Commerce Energy Facility Permitting 85 7th Place East, Suite 500

  • St. Paul, MN 55101-2198
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SLIDE 41

Commission Contacts

Cezar Panait, Staff Analyst

(651) 201-2201, Cezar.Panait@state.mn.us

Charley Bruce, Public Advisor

(651) 201-2251, publicadvisor.puc@state.mn.us Public Utilities Commission 121 7th Place East, Suite 350

  • St. Paul, MN 55101-2147
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Comments and Questions

  • One speaker at a time
  • Five (5) minutes per speaker (opportunity for more at the end if

time allows)

  • State & spell name for court reporter
  • Please maintain respect for others
  • Focus comments on Environmental Report and Draft Permit

issues