Abstract
AWA Goodhue, LLC (AWA Goodhue) received a site permit from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) on August 23, 2011 to construct a 78 MW large wind energy conversion system in Goodhue County, Minnesota. The Project Area approved under the Site Permit covers approximately 32,684 acres (51 square miles) (Exhibit 1), which is mostly agricultural land. Upon completion of construction, the MPUC will amend the Project Area approved in the Site Permit to cover only the properties necessary for the efficient operation of the project. In this ABPP, we have referred to this final Project Area as the “Operational Project Area” for purposes of the ongoing wildlife survey work. The approximate boundary of the Operational Project Area plus a two mile buffer is depicted in Exhibit 2.
The Project has been revised to involve construction of 48 1.6 MW GE turbines with a total nameplate capacity of 76.8 MW, two project substations, collector and feeder lines, an operation and maintenance (O&M) facility, two permanent meteorological towers, associated access roads and a new approximately four mile 69 kV transmission line. The final turbine layout depicts 52 total turbines locations, of which 48 are primary turbines and will actually be constructed and four are alternate locations (see Exhibit 1). The number of turbines proposed has been reduced by shifting entirely to 1.6 MW machines. The four alternate turbine locations exist in case any proposed turbine locations are eliminated due to unforeseen constraints. The factors relied upon in selecting the site for the Project and developing the turbine layout are discussed in Appendix A.