INFORMATION #1 04-11-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

{) .~ GREAT RIVER ENE R G Y@ 17845 East Highway 10 . P.O. Box 800 . Elk River, Minnesota 55330-0800 . 763-441-3121 . Fax 763-241-2366 March 28, 2005 WO #51611 Steven Rohlf City of Elk River Bldg & Env. Administrator 13065 Orono Pkwy Elk River, MN 55330 SUBJECT: Proposed Great River Energy Combustion Turbine and Transmission Line Upgrades Great River Energy (GRE) is proposing to construct a natural gas-fired combustion turbine at its existing Cambridge Peaking Plant site to ensure sufficient and reliable electric service to its members' customers, including those of East Central Energy. Under Minnesota Rules 4400, GRE is required to obtain a site permit from the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB). An Environmental Assessment (EA) with Scoping is also required under federal regulations (Code of Federal Regulations Part 1794) where the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) serves as the lead agency. GRE submitted an Alternatives Evaluation and Site Selection Study to the RUS on February 28, 2005, which initiates the EA process. GRE also applied to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for a Certificate of Need for the project on February 28, 2005, which isa state permit confirming that the construction of the power plant is in the public interest. GRE submitted a site permit application to the EQB on March 11, 2005 requesting that the application be processed under the alternative process outlined in Minnesota Rules 4400.2000 to 4400.2950. The EQB deemed the application complete on March 14, 2005. Project Description The project consists of constructing a natural gas-fired, simple cycle combustion turbine power generation facility at GRE's existing Cambridge Peaking Plant site located at 2438 349th Avenue NE, Cambridge Township, in Isanti County, Minnesota (see enclosed figure). Total electrical output from the facility is expected to range from 150 megawatts (MW) to 190 MW depending upon operating conditions. The project will also require the upgrade of approximately 47 miles of existing 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines to state-of-the-art 69-kV design (see enclosed map) Summary of the EQB Site Permit Process The EQB is required to prepare an EA of the generating plant and to make a permit decision within six months of accepting the site permit application. As part of its process, the EQB will hold a public meeting about the project within 60 days of acceptance of the application. This meeting will also serve as the scoping meeting for the project in which the public will have an opportunity to comment on the scope of the EA. The scoping meeting for the EQB site permit and the RUS Environmental Assessment can be held as one meeting. The EQB will hold a public hearing on the application once the EA has been completed. www.GreatRiverEnergy.com A Touchstone Energy@ Cooperative ~~ -