South Dakota PUC: Grants Crowned Ridge Wind II Permit with Conditions

• The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission approved a construction permit for the 301-megawatt Crowned Ridge Wind II Project on March 17, 2020.
• The project, located in Codington, Deuel, and Grant counties, involves up to 132 wind turbines and has an estimated cost of $425 million.
• The permit includes nearly 50 conditions addressing issues like shadow flicker, ice throw, and environmental monitoring for species like whooping cranes.
• Several key permit conditions were directly influenced by testimony from intervenors during a three-day evidentiary hearing in early February.
• The first 200 MW phase of the project is expected to be constructed in 2020 and will be sold to Xcel Energy upon commercial operation.

Several of the stringent conditions ultimately imposed by the commission directly stemmed from testimony presented during a three-day evidentiary hearing held in early February.

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) officially granted a construction permit for the Crowned Ridge Wind II Project on March 17, 2020, following a vote during its regular meeting. This significant decision paves the way for a 301-megawatt (MW) wind energy facility to be developed across approximately 60,996 acres in Codington, Deuel, and Grant counties, situated east of Watertown. The project, which involves the installation of up to 132 wind turbines, represents a substantial investment with a total estimated cost of $425 million.

The Crowned Ridge Wind II construction approval outlines a two-phase development plan. The initial phase targets 200 MWs, with construction anticipated to commence in 2020. This first segment of the project is slated for sale to Xcel Energy upon achieving commercial operation, under an existing purchase and sale agreement. A subsequent phase, potentially adding another 100 MWs, is contingent upon the results of ongoing transmission interconnection studies.

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission's approval of the Crowned Ridge Wind II permit came with a robust set of nearly 50 conditions, meticulously developed by PUC staff and the project applicant. These SD wind energy project conditions are designed to mitigate potential impacts and ensure responsible development. Key areas addressed include managing shadow flicker, preventing ice throw, ensuring proper land restoration post-construction, and mandating the appointment of a public liaison officer to facilitate community communication.

Commissioners engaged in extensive discussions, leading to modifications and additions to the proposed conditions. Specific new or altered requirements cover the implementation of aircraft detection lighting systems, fostering cooperation with agricultural spray applicators, continuous monitoring of sound pressure levels, and comprehensive monitoring programs for avian and bat mortality. Furthermore, the permit includes provisions for monitoring potential impacts on whooping cranes. The necessary transmission and generation tie lines, including the 5-mile, 230-kV Crowned Ridge II line and the 34-mile generation tie-in line connecting to the Big Stone South 230-kV substation, had already received prior PUC approval, with their construction completed in 2019 in anticipation of this project.

A crucial aspect of the renewable energy permitting South Dakota process for Crowned Ridge Wind II was the significant influence of public participation. Several of the stringent conditions ultimately imposed by the commission directly stemmed from testimony presented during a three-day evidentiary hearing held in early February. Intervenors Amber Christenson, Allen Robish, and attorney A.J. Swanson, who represented landowners Gary Ehlebracht, Steven and Mary Greber, Richard and Amy Rall, and Laretta Kranz, played an active role. They presented evidence and cross-examined witnesses alongside PUC staff and the applicant, demonstrating the impact of wind farm intervenor testimony.

Kristi Mogen also contributed actively throughout other stages of the docket. PUC Chairman Gary Hanson commended the intervenors for successfully navigating a complex process, noting their efforts were instrumental in ensuring citizen protection. He affirmed the commission's commitment to upholding the law and setting conditions that safeguard landowners affected by the project.

Vice Chairman Chris Nelson echoed this sentiment, stating that the applicant had legally demonstrated entitlement to the permit and that the established conditions would effectively protect South Dakotans. Commissioner Kristie Fiegen acknowledged the lengthy application process, which began with the application filing on July 9, 2019, and a public input meeting in Watertown in August, and praised the diligent work of all parties, particularly the PUC staff's collaborative approach to resolving issues.

Source: Original reporting via South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.