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• II. THE PROPOSED PROJECT A. Summary Description Metro Wind's proposed project will consist of one wind turbine with a nameplate capacity of 660 kW, which could be characterized as a medium-sized turbine. The turbine is a V-47 model manufactured by Vestas, a Danish manufacturer which is a longstanding turbine manufacturer and the largest such manufacturer in the world. The turbine is located on top of a freestanding steel enclosed tubular tower which, in turn, is attached to a concrete foundation buried below grade. A small pad-mounted transformer typically is located adjacent to the turbine foundation pad. An access road for maintenance purposes will be constructed between the turbine and public road. The power generated by the turbine is transmitted from the transformer through underground electric lines to a point of interconnection with lines owned by Elk River Municipal Utilities ("ERMU"). ERMU will then transmit the energy to transmission system facilities owned by Great River Energy and, ultimately, to NSP. Metro Wind has entered into a power purchase agreement with NSP pursuant to which NSP agrees to buy the entire output of the wind turbine. Metro Wind will install the equipment needed to interconnect the turbine with ERMU's system and operate the turbine in a manner which will not adversely affect the operation of ERMU's system or ERMU's customers. B. The Project Site • Metro Wind selected the Site for development due to the quality of the wind resource at the Site and its location in an area currently occupied by similar industrial and commercial uses. The Site is part of a parcel owned by a trust for the benefit of Ernest and Doris Toth(Toth Trust). Maps depicting the Site and its characteristics are included with this application. The bulk of the Toth property south of the Site has been used for gravel mining and related purposes for many years, and is currently being mined by Bauerly Brothers pursuant to an Agreement for Issuance of Conditional Use Permit dated June 23, 1997. The Site lies immediately north of the gravel mining activities across 225th Street, and is about 2.5 acres in size. ERMU maintains a distribution line south of and adjacent to 225th Street into which the Metro Wind project will connect. The Site is currently vacant and occupied by brush and wooded area. There are no structures or improvements on the Site. Until recently, the Site was subject to Bauerly Brothers' lease for mining with the landowners and was permitted for that use. There are no wetlands on the Site, or any other protected or endangered species or land use. The Site is zoned A-1, which permits wind generators in areas zoned in this manner. The construction and operation of the Project will result in limited changes to the Site. The turbine will be located at a point shown in map A-2 at the top of a small knoll. The turbine is set back from the Site boundaries as far as practicable, and the access road will connect with 225th Street as shown on map A-3. Lines from the turbine will be buried to the point where they cross 225th Street to intersect with ERMU lines within ERMU's existing easements. See map A- • 2. Once construction is complete, only about .5 acres will be occupied by turbine and wind 2