Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Number: E-6928/GS-14-515

September 2014 Montrose, Lindstrom, Marshall, St Paul, Paynesville, Faribault

Aurora Distributed Solar Project

AGENDA Site Permit Roles and Process ◦ Public Utilities Commission

Project Summary ◦ Aurora Distributed Solar, LLC

Environmental Review ◦ Department of Commerce

Citizen Comments and Questions

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Public Utilities Commission 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 5 Commissioners ◦ Appointed by the Governor ◦ Serve staggered terms ◦ Full time employment

50 staff

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Who’s Who? Applicant – Company asking for Site Permit–Aurora Distributed Solar, LLC Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis

(EERA) –State agency, conducts environmental review Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) – State agency, Administrative

Law Judge (ALJ) holds hearings, summarizes the facts in the record, makes recommendations to Public Utilities Commission

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Who’s Who? Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Public Advisor – Helps citizens

participate in the certificate of need and route permit processes. Neutral party, does not give legal advice, not an advocate.

Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Staff Analyst– Assists in building the record. Informs Commissioners on impacts of different decisions. Neutral party, does not give legal advice, not an advocate.

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Large Electric Power Generating Plant ◦ 50,000 kilowatts or more

◦ Requires Site Permit from Minnesota Public

Utilities Commission Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 216E Minnesota Rules, Part 7850

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Factors considered in Public Utilities Commission’s decision on the site Human settlement – displacement, noise, aesthetics,

cultural values, recreation, public services Public health and safety Economy– agriculture, forestry, tourism, mining Archaeological and historic resources

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Factors considered (continued) Natural environment – air, water, plants, animals Maximize efficiencies Allow for future expansion Use of existing power plant sites Electrical system reliability Costs to construct, operate, and maintain the power

plant

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Application Accepted to Decision = 6-9 months

Power Plant Site Permit Process

Public Comment Opportunity

Public Meeting Opportunity

Public Information and Scoping

Meetings

Application Accepted

Site Permit

Decision

Administrative Law Judge Report

Environmental Assessment (EA)

Published Public Hearings

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Environmental Assessment (EA) Scoping Decision

Review of Facts and Merits

Estimated Project Timeline

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Site Permit Application Filed July 2014

Site Permit Application Accepted August 2014

*Public Information & Scoping Meetings September 2014

Comment Period Closes September 30, 2014

Environmental Assessment (EA) Scoping Decision October 2014

Environmental Assessment Published January 2015

Public Hearings February 2015

Administrative Law Judge Report April 2015

Site Permit Decision May 2015

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Sample Notice of Comment Period

KEYS to sending comments Include the docket number (14-515) Stick to topics listed No need to submit comments more than once Oral and written comments carry the same

weight Quality vs quantity Comments are public information Received at PUC by 4:30pm on end date

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How do I get more information? See all documents related to this project mn.gov/puc Select Search eDockets Enter the year and the Docket Number ◦ 14 is the year and 515 is the number Select Search

The list of documents will appear on the next page

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Project Mailing List Receive information about project milestones

and opportunities for citizen participation ◦ Email or US Mail ◦ Complete and return Project Mailing List card ◦ Contact the Public Utilities Commission docketing.puc@state.mn.us 651-201-2204 or 1-800-657-3782

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How do I get more information?

Subscribe to receive email notification when new documents are added to the Docket 1. mn.gov/puc 2. Select green box Subscribe to a Docket 3. Type your email address 4. For Type of Subscription, select Docket Number 5. For Docket Number, select 14 in the first box, type 515 in

the second box (Route Permit) 6. Select Add to List

*Subscribing may result in a large number of emails

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How do I get more information?

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How do I get more information?

Regulatory Engineer Public Utilities Commission Cezar Panait cezar.panait@state.mn.us Phone 651-201-2207

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Public Advisor Public Utilities Commission Tracy M.B. Smetana consumer.puc@state.mn.us Phone 651-296-0406 Toll Free 1-800-657-3782

PUC Project Contacts

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Project Manager Aurora Distributed Solar, LLC Tena Rytel tena@geronimoenergy.com Phone 952-988-9000

Project Summary – Aurora Distributed Solar, LLC

Aurora Solar

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Docket 14-515 Public Utilities Commission Department of Commerce

Public Scoping Meeting

Aurora Solar

Aurora Solar • Project Owner and Operator:

Aurora Distributed Solar, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Enel Green Power North America, Inc

• Project Developer: Geronimo Energy

• 100 MW Distributed Solar Energy Project • Up to 24 facilities • Located in up to 16 counties • Facility Sizes 1.5 MW to 10 MW • Expected Total Investment ~$250M • Negotiating Power Purchase Agreement with Xcel Energy

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• Enel Green Power North America, Inc. (EGP-NA), is a leading owner and operator of renewable energy plants with more than 90 operating plants in 21 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces.

• EGP-NA has a total installed capacity of nearly 2,000 MW powered by hydropower, wind,

geothermal and solar energy.

• EGP-NA is a subsidiary of EGP, the Enel Group company devoted to renewable energy.

• EGP has 750 operating power plants in 16 different countries around the world. • EGP has over 9,000 MW of renewable installed capacity from a generation mix diversified

across five different technologies (solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and biomass) • EGP has 20 years of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) plant operation experience, starting with

the 3.3 MW Serre Persano PV project built in 1994 (still in operation with an increased capacity to 6.6 MW)

Aurora Solar & Enel Green Power

Aurora Solar

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Economics

• County & City/Township Tax Revenue – Project is taxed at $1.20/Megawatt

Hour (MWh) • 80% to hosting Counties • 20% to hosting Cities/Townships

– Aurora is expected to generate annually:

• ~$ 200,000 in Property Tax Payments; $4M over 20 years

• ~ $ 240,000 in Production Tax Payments; $4.8M over 20 years

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• Job Creation – ~750 construction related jobs – 30 full-time equivalent jobs created

across the state; includes local service contracts for landscaping, snow plowing, etc

Aurora Solar – Local Sites

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Aurora Solar – Local Sites

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Aurora Solar – Local Sites

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Aurora Solar – Local Sites

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Aurora Solar – Local Sites

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Aurora Solar – Local Sites

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Photovoltaic Electricity Generation

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• Photovoltaic (PV) devices generate electricity directly from sunlight

• Electronic process occurs naturally in certain types of material, called semiconductors

• Electrons freed by solar energy and induced to travel through an electrical circuit

• Used for powering electrical devices or sending electricity to the grid

Please note that the photographs here are only depictions of what Aurora may look like. Final design will determine tracking, module, heights and vegetated growth.

Components of a Solar Facility

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• Inverters • Modules/Panels • Racking • Access Roads • Electrical Components (e.g.

cables, transformers, switchgears, control systems)

• Security Fencing • Stormwater Retention Areas • Operation and Maintenance

sheds

Primary Components of a Solar Facility

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• Inverter • Modules/Panels • Racking

Primary Components of a Solar Facility

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Polycrystalline Thin Film • Inverter • Modules/Panels • Racking

Primary Components of a Solar Facility

Tracking

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• Inverter • Modules/Panels • Racking

Key Parts of Solar Facility Construction

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• Grading • Pile Driving • Installation • Re-vegetation

Solar Facility Construction

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Solar Facility Construction

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Solar Facility Construction

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Key Parts of Solar Facility Construction

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Grading

Pile Driving Key Parts of Solar Facility Construction

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Key Parts of Solar Facility Construction

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Installation

Key Parts of Solar Facility Construction

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Installation

Key Parts of Solar Facility Construction

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Restoration & Re-Vegetation

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Questions?

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Albany Solar

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Annandale Solar

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Atwater Solar

Aurora Solar

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Brooten Solar

Aurora Solar

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Chisago Solar

Aurora Solar

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Dodge Center Solar

Aurora Solar

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Eastwood Solar

Aurora Solar

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Fiesta City Solar

Aurora Solar

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Hastings Solar

Aurora Solar

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Lake Emily Solar

Aurora Solar

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Lake Pulaski Solar

Aurora Solar

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Lawrence Creek Solar

Aurora Solar

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Lester Prairie Solar

Aurora Solar

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Mayhew Lake Solar

Aurora Solar

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Montrose Solar

Aurora Solar

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Paynesville Solar

Aurora Solar

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Pine Island Solar

Aurora Solar

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Pipestone Solar

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Scandia Solar

Aurora Solar

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Waseca Solar

Aurora Solar

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West Faribault Solar

Aurora Solar

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West Waconia Solar

Aurora Solar

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Wyoming Solar

Aurora Solar

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Zumbrota Solar

Aurora Solar

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Aurora Distributed Solar Project Public Information and Scoping

Meetings Montrose, Lindstrom, Marshall, St. Paul, Paynesville,

Faribault September 9, 10, 16, 17, 2014

Aurora Distributed Solar Project

Up to 24 facility locations in 16 counties

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Environmental Assessment (EA)

A tool for the public, agencies, and decision-makers to assist in siting and permitting of a proposed project: • Discusses potential human and

environmental impacts • Identifies strategies for avoiding, minimizing,

and mitigating potential impacts

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EA Scope

Provides an outline for the EA developed for the project by identifying: • Issues and Impacts to be addressed • Alternative sites, if any, to be addressed • Schedule for completion of the EA

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EA Scoping Comments • What human and environmental impacts of the

proposed project should be studied? • Are there any specific methods to avoid, reduce,

or mitigate these impacts that should be studied?

• Are there specific alternative locations that should be considered?

• Are there changes to a proposed facility that should be considered in order to address these impacts?

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Scoping Comment: Impact

Impact (General) • Rare and Unique

Natural Resource Impact (Specific) • Blandings Turtle

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Alternative Sites

A person desiring that a particular alternative site be evaluated shall submit: • An explanation of why the alternative site

should be included in the EA, and • All supporting information the person wants

the Department to consider

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Location Modification

Is there a modification to a proposed facility location that might address a concern?

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Scoping Comment: Route Alternative

Issue: Avoid Historic Property

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Scoping Comment: Route Alternative

Issue: Re-align closer to road

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Aurora’s Site Selection Criteria

• Landowner willing to sell or lease the land • Proximity to Xcel Energy Distribution

Substation • Parcel Suitability:

– 13 acre minimum, 7- 10 acres per megawatt – Flat, agricultural or undeveloped land – No known environmental constraints (e.g.

wetlands, Scientific or Natural Area)

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Project Information

Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review & Analysis

Website for Aurora Project: http://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/Docket.

html?Id=33924

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Scoping Comments Due:

4:30 pm, September 30, 2014

Attn: Suzanne Steinhauer Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis 85 7th Place East, Suite 500 St. Paul, MN 55101-2198 Suzanne.steinhauer@state.mn.us Fax: 651-539-0109 Website:

http://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/#comment

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Department Contact – Environmental Review

Suzanne Steinhauer Environmental Review Manager Phone: 651-539-1843 800-657-3794 Email: suzanne.steinhauer@state.mn.us 83