PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE
OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AVAILABILITY, PUBLIC HEARINGS,
AND COMMENT PERIOD

In the Matter of the Application of Dodge County Wind, LLC for a Certificate of Need, a Site Permit, and a Route Permit for the up to 259 MW Large Wind Energy Conversion System and associated 161 kV Transmission Line in Dodge, Mower, and Steele Counties, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Number:
IP6981/CN-20-865 (certificate of need);
IP6981/WS-20-866 (site permit);
IP6981/TL-20-867 (route permit)
In Person Meeting
Date: December 19, 2023
Time: Session 1 – 1:00 pm
Session 2 – 6:00 pm
Location: Saker’s Sports Bar & Grill
401 8th St SE
Kasson, MN, 55944
• Public hearings start on time. For in-person meetings, arrive a few minutes early so you have time to pick up materials and find a seat.
‘• Citizens will have the opportunity to offer oral and written comments into the record.
Staff from the Commission, the Department, and Dodge County Wind, LLC will be available to answer questions about the project and the review process.
• The same information will be presented at each hearing.
• Each meeting will last until everyone at the meeting has had an opportunity to speak.
• Comments received at the meeting and during the comment period will be used to inform the record and help the Commission with making its final decision.
Bad Weather? Find out if a meeting is canceled. Call (toll-free) 1-855-731-6208 or 651-201-2213 or visit mn.gov/puc
Remote Access Meeting
Date: December 20, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm
Telephone: 1-855-282-6330
Web Address: https://minnesota.webex.com
Event Password, if needed: WvJpNKeZ328
Access Code: 2492 910 8330
If you are joining the meeting by WebEx and would like to ask a question or make a comment during the designated portion of the meeting, use the chat function to send a message to the meeting moderator. If you are joining the meeting by phone, press *3 on your phone. When it is your turn to speak, your line will be unmuted, and you will be able to ask questions and provide comments. Additional information and instructions are available at: https://mn.gov/puc/activities/meetings/webex/
If you have questions about participating in the meeting or need assistance during the meeting, please contact the Public Advisor at the Commission (contact information below).
The Honorable Kimberly Middendorf, Administrative Law Judge with the Office of Administrative Hearings will administer the hearing and will provide the Commission with a report setting forth findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations on the merits of the site permit, route permit, and certificate of need applications and provide recommendations, if any, on conditions and provisions of a certificate of need, site permit, and route permit. The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain public input on the proposed project and compile the record for the Commission to consider in making a final decision on the certificate of need, site permit, and route permit applications.
Backup Date and Times for In-person Meetings
In the case there is a need to cancel and reschedule the in-person meetings, the Commission has reserved January 10, 2024 at 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm at Saker’s Sports Bar and Grill in Kasson, MN as a backup for the in-person meetings.
Project Description
Dodge County Wind, LLC (DCW or applicant), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC proposes to construct, own, and operate the Dodge County Wind Farm in Dodge and Steele counties and approximately 27 miles of 161 kV transmission line in Dodge and Mower counties (Project). DCW originally proposed the Project with a nameplate capacity of up to 259 megawatts (MW) and up to 79 turbines. The final design for the Project proposes a nameplate capacity of up to 252 MW and includes up to 77 turbines. The Project would use 12 GE 2.52 MW turbines with 382-foot blades on 295-foot towers, for a total height of 486.5 feet from ground to tip. It also would use 65 GE 3.4 turbines in two configurations: 459- foot blades on 266-foot towers, for a total height of 495 feet, and 459-foot blades on 322- foot towers, for a total height of 551 feet. Additionally, the Project will include a collector substation, collection lines, an operation and maintenance building, permanent meteorological towers, Aircraft Detection Lighting System towers, and gravel access roads. The associated 161 kV transmission line would connect the wind farm to the Pleasant Valley substation in Mower County.
Environmental Assessment
The Department has prepared and issued an environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed project. The EA analyzes the potential impacts of the proposed project and possible mitigation measures and was issued on November 30th, 2023. In addition, the EA analyzes the potential impacts of any alternatives (including route alternatives) contained in the Scoping Decision. The EA is available on the Department’s website and on eDockets (see Additional Information, below). Print copies of the EA are available from the Department upon request; please contact Suzanne Steinhauer – Suzanne.steinhauer@state.mn.us, or 651-539-1843.
Public Hearing and Process Information
The public hearings and written comment period afford interested persons the opportunity to ask questions of the applicant and agency staff and to offer oral and written comments on the merits of the proposed project, on the EA, and on conditions to be considered for inclusion in a site or route permit.
Minnesota Statutes and Rules. The certificate of need application for this project is being reviewed using the Commission’s informal review process and under Minnesota Statutes chapter 216B and Minnesota Rules chapter 7849. The site permit application is being reviewed under Minnesota Statutes chapter 216F and Minnesota Rules chapter 7854. The route permit application is being reviewed under Minnesota Statutes chapter 216E and Minnesota Rules chapter 7850.
The rules and statutes are available for review at: http://www.revisor.mn.gov.
Written Comment Period
Written comments will be accepted through January 10, 2024, by 4:30 p.m. Please include the docket numbers in all communications. Comments received after the close of the comment period may or may not be considered by the Commission.
Please focus your comments on information that will help answer the following questions:
• Should the Commission grant a certificate of need, site permit, and route permit for the proposed project?
• Is the proposed project needed and in the public interest?
• What are the human and environmental impacts of the project, and how can these impacts be addressed and mitigated in the site and route permits?
• If a route permit is granted for the facility, what additional conditions or requirements should be included?
• If a site permit is granted for the facility, what additional conditions or requirements should be included?
• Are there other project-related issues or concerns?
Comments may be submitted via:
Online https://mn.gov/puc/get-involved/public-comments/, and follow the instructions.
Email Comments can be emailed to consumer.puc@state.mn.us.
US Mail: Public Advisor, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
121 7th Place East, Suite 350
Saint Paul, MN 55101
eFiling Visit mn.gov/puc, select Comment, and follow the prompts.
Important Comments will be made available to the public via the Public Utilities Commission’s website, except in limited circumstances consistent with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The Commission does not edit or delete personal identifying information from submissions.
How to Learn More
Department of Commerce Project Website:
https://apps.commerce.state.mn.us/eera/web/project/13333
Subscribe to the Docket: To receive email notification when new documents are filed in this matter visit: https://www.edockets.state.mn.us/EFiling and select Subscribe to Dockets.
Full Case Record: See all documents filed in this matter on the Commission’s website at: mn.gov/puc/edockets, select Go to eDockets Project Database, enter the year (20) and the docket number (865; 866; 867), and select Search.
Community Locations: The certificate of need application and environmental review are available at these locations:
• Brownsdale Public Library, 103 Main St E, Brownsdale, MN 55918
• Dodge Center Library, 13 1st Ave NW, Dodge Center, MN 55927
• Hayfield Public Library, 18 W Main St. Hayfield, MN 55940
• Blooming Prairie Public Library, 138 Hwy Ave S, Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
Project Contacts
Public Utilities Commission Public Advisor
Craig Janezich, Public Advisor, craig.janezich@state.mn.us or 651-201-2203
Public Utilities Commission Energy Facilities Planner
Sam Lobby – sam.lobby@state.mn.us or 651-201-2205
Department of Commerce Environmental Review Manager
Suzanne Steinhauer – Suzanne.steinhauer@state.mn.us , 651-539-1843 or 1-800-657-3794
Dodge County Wind Project Contact
Clay Cameron – clay.cameron@nexteraenergy.com or 561-267-5044
If any reasonable accommodation is needed so that you may fully participate in these meetings, for example sign language or large print materials, please contact the Office of Administrative Hearings at 651-361-7900 (voice) at least one week before the meeting.
To request this document in another format such as large print or audio, call 651.296.0406 (voice).
Persons with a hearing or speech impairment may call using their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

Austin Daily Herald:
Dec. 6, 2023
HEARINGS