Legal Notice
NOTICE OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARINGS AND DRAFT SITE PERMIT AVAILABILITY
Issued: May 29, 2018
In the Matter of the Applications of Nobles 2 Power Partners, LLC for a Certificate of Need and a Site Permit for the up to 260 MW Nobles 2 Wind Project and Associated Facilities in Nobles County, Minnesota
Public Utilities Commission (Commission) Docket Numbers: IP6964/CN-16-289 IP6964/WS-17-597
Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 71-2500-35110
Date: June 20, 2018
Time: 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Location: Wilmont Community Center, 316 4th Avenue, Wilmont, MN
Bad Weather? Find out if a meeting is canceled. Call (toll-free) 1-855-731-6208 or 651-201-2213 or visit mn.gov/puc
Project Description
On October 13, 2017, Nobles 2 Power Partners, LLC (Nobles 2) submitted applications to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to construct and operate a large wind energy conversion system (LWECS) in Nobles County. In order to construct the Nobles 2 Wind Project, the applicant must be granted a certificate of need and a site permit from the Commission.
The proposed project would entail construction of between 65 to 82 wind turbines for a combined nameplate capacity of up to 260 megawatts (MW) in Bloom, Larkin, Leota, Lismore, Summit Lake, and Wilmont townships in Nobles County. Facilities associated with the project include underground electrical collection and communication lines, a project substation and interconnection switchyard, an operations and maintenance building, and permanent meteorological towers and gravel access roads.
The applicant has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Minnesota Power to provide renewable energy for its utility customers in northeastern Minnesota. If approved, Nobles 2 anticipates beginning construction in the 4th quarter of 2018, and commencing operations in the 4th quarter of 2019.
Public Hearing Information
•Public hearings start on time.
•Arrive a few minutes early so you have time to sign in, pick up materials, and find a seat.
•Administrative Law Judge Jessica Palmer-Denig will preside over the hearing.
•Public Utilities Commission, Department of Commerce, and Nobles 2 representatives will be available to answer questions about the permitting process and the project.
•You may add verbal comments, written comments, or both into the record.
Submit Comments
Topics for Public Comment:
•Should the Commission issue a certificate of need and a site permit for the project?
•Is the proposed project needed and in the public interest?
•What are the costs and benefits of the proposed project?
•What are the environmental and human impacts of each site under consideration and how can these impacts be addressed?
•Are there other project-related issues or concerns?
Comment Period: May 29, 2018 through July 11, 2018 at 4:30pm.
Comments received after comment period closes may not be considered.
Online: Visit mn.gov/puc, select Speak Up!, find this docket, and add your comments to the discussion.
Email: Comments can be emailed to publicadvisor.puc@state.mn.us.
eFiling: Visit mn.gov/puc, select eFiling, and follow the prompts.
Important Comments will be made available to the public via the Commission’s website, except in limited circumstances consistent with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The Commission does not edit or delete personal identifying information from submissions.
Process Information
The Commission must approve a certificate of need and a site permit before the project can be built. Nobles 2 submitted the certificate of need application in October 2017 and the site permit application was accepted in January 2018. This means the company submitted all the information required to begin the review process.
Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis staff (EERA) have issued an environmental report on the project. EERA reviewed public comments received and recommended the Commission issue a draft site permit for the project. A draft site permit is a document prepared for public review and does not permit construction of the project.
The Commission issued the draft site permit for the project on May 25, 2018.
The public hearing is an opportunity for the public to ask questions and submit recommendations for the Commission’s consideration in reaching its decision. After the public hearing and comment period, Administrative Law Judge Jessica Palmer-Denig will prepare a report for the Commission.
The Commission will review all the information in the record and anticipates final decisions on the certificate of need and site permit applications in September or October of 2018.
Eminent Domain: The applicant does not have eminent domain authority to acquire land necessary for the project. All leases or easements secured to acquire land for the project are voluntary.
How to Learn More
Department of Commerce Project Website:
https://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/Docket.html?Id=34736
Project Mailing List: Sign up to receive notices about project milestones and opportunities to participate (meetings, comment periods, etc.). Contact docketing.puc@state.mn.us or 651-201-2204 with the docket number (16-289 for the certificate of need or 17-597 for the site permit application), your name, mailing address and email address.
Full Case Record: See all documents filed in this docket via the Commission’s website – mn.gov/puc, select “Search eDockets,” enter the year (16 for the certificate of need, 17 for the site permit application) and the docket number (289 for the certificate of need, 597 for the site permit application), select “Search.”
Subscribe to the Docket: To receive email notification when new documents are filed in the project dockets, go to the Commission’s website, mn.gov/puc, select Subscribe and follow the prompts. Note – subscribing may result in a large number of emails.
Community Locations: The certificate of need, site permit application, and environmental report are available at these locations:
*Nobles County Library, 407 12th St, Worthington, MN
*Nobles County Government Center – Auditor’s Office, 315 10th St. Worthington, MN
*Wilmont City Hall, 316 4th Avenue, Wilmont, MN
*Lismore City Hall, 249 East 2nd St, Lismore, MN
*Bloom Township, c/o Nan Henning, 11761 Knauf Avenue, Fulda, MN 56131
*Larkin Township, c/o William Slater, 17731 Erickson Avenue, Rushmore, MN 56168
*Leota Township, c/o Brent Feikema, 15344 120th Street, Lismore, MN 56155
*Lismore Township, c/o Jeffrey Lynn, 17852 Bulick Avenue, Lismore, MN 56155
*Summit Lake Township, c/o JoAnn Burkard, 17679 McCall Avenue, Reading, MN 56165
*Wilmont Township, c/o Mary Brake, 12171 Erickson Avenue, Wilmont, MN 56185
Minnesota Statutes and Rules: This project is reviewed under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 216F Minnesota Rules Chapter 7854, available at https://www.revisor.mn.gov/.
Project Contacts
Public Utilities Commission Public Advisor
Charley Bruce, publicadvisor@state.mn.us, 651-201-2251 or 1-800-657-3782
Public Utilities Commission Energy Facilities Planner
Michael Kaluzniak – mike.kaluzniak@state.mn.us or 651-201-2257
Department of Commerce Environmental Review Manager
David Birkholz – david.birkholz@state.mn.us, 651-539-1838 or 1-800-657-3794
Nobles 2 Power Partners, LLC Project Contact
Scott Seier – sseier@tenaska.com or 402-691-9510
If any reasonable accommodation is needed to enable you to fully participate in these meetings (e.g., sign language or large print materials), please contact the Office of Administrative Hearings at 651-361-7900 (voice) or 651-361-7878 (TTY) at least one week in advance of the meeting.
To request this document in another format such as large print or audio, call 651.296.0406 (voice). Persons with a hearing or speech impairment may call using their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service or email consumer.puc@state.mn.us for assistance.
