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Dial: 1-866-609-6127Conference ID#: 8572848

Nobles Wind RepoweringPUC Docket No. IP-6646/WS-09-584

April 29, 2021 @ 6:00 P.M.

Nobles Wind Repower - Agenda

1. Overview of Meeting and Permit Amendment Process

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

2. Project Information

Xcel Energy

3. Review of the Draft Site Permit

Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review & Analysis

4. Citizen Comments and Questions

You!

3Dial: 1-866-609-6127, Conference ID#: 8572848

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

Our Role• The Commission ensures there is enough power generated to keep our lights on and our homes

warm.• The Commission regulates investor-owned utilities to ensure Minnesotans are charged

reasonable rates for power.• The Commission permits energy generation facilities and transmission lines for construction.

Permitting• Commission staff review evidence, build a record of information, analyze the information, and

make recommendations to the five Commissioners who have final say about a given permit decision.

• The Commissioners, after conducting a public process including a public hearing, make the final decision about a project, which carries the weight of law.


Nobles Wind Repowering Application Review Process

5

Draft Site Permit Proposed and Filed

Comment Period Ends

Decision by the Minnesota Public Utilities

Commission

Public Information &

Comment Period

Site Permit Amendment Filed

Dial: 1-866-609-6127, Conference ID#: 8572848

Nobles Wind Repowering Application Review Timeline

6

Process Step DateSite Permit Amendment Application

2/26/21

Completeness & Draft Permit 3/19/21

Notice of Public Information Meeting & Comment Period

4/8/21

Public Information Meeting 4/29/21

Comment Period Ends 5/10/21

Reply Comments Ends 5/24/21

Commission Decision July 2021


Nobles Wind Repower – Submitting Comments

Online: Visit mn.gov/puc, select Comment, and follow the prompts.

Email: [email protected]

U.S. Mail: Charley BruceMinnesota Public Utilities Commission121 7th Place East, Suite 350St. Paul MN 55101

Phone: 651-201-2251

Important: Comments will be made available to the public via the Public Utilities Commission’s and the Department of Commerce’s websites, except in limited circumstances consistent with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Personally identifying information is not edited or deleted from submissions.

Four ways to submit comments (all forms have equal weight):


https://mn.gov/puc/

mailto:[email protected]

Nobles Wind Repower – Public Comments

The Commission is seeking comments on the proposed project.

Comments accepted until May 10, 2021 and Reply Comments accepted until May 24, 2021

Please include the Commission’s Docket Number WS-09-584 in all communication.

• What potential human and environmental impacts, if any, should the Commission consider when deciding on the proposed facility upgrades and requested permit amendments?

• Should any permit conditions be modified or added?

• Should the Commission approve the requested amendments to the Nobles Wind Farm LWECS site permit?


Additional Information

Department of Commerce Website

Full Case Record: See all documents filed in this docket by visiting: mn.gov/puc, select eDockets, enter year (09) and the docket number (584).

Project Mailing List: Sign up to receive notices about project milestones and opportunities to participate (meetings, comment periods, etc.). Contact [email protected], 651-201-2204, with the docket numbers (09-584), your name, mailing address, and email address.

Subscribe to the Docket: Receive email notification when new documents are filed in this matter at mn.gov/puc, select eDockets, and select Subscribe to Dockets. *Note - subscribing may result in a large number of emails.

Dial: 1-866-609-6127, Conference ID#: 8572848 9


Thank You

Michael [email protected]

651-201-2257

Charley [email protected]

651-201-2251


Nobles Wind Repower


Xcel Energy

Serving eight states• 3.6 million electricity customers• 2 million natural gas customers

Nationally recognized leader:• Wind energy• Energy efficiency• Carbon emissions reductions• Innovative technology• Storm restoration

Our carbon-free future

Upper Midwest Investment

• Proposal submitted to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

• Upgrade four, existing Xcel Energy wind farms• Save customers money, increase energy

produced• Additional landowner and local government

tax and lease payments


Existing Wind Farm• Built in 2010• 134 GE sle 1.5MW turbines

Re-powered Wind Farm• Built by December 2022• 133 GE sle 1.6MW turbines &

1-Vestas V136 turbine• Installed Aircraft Detection

Lighting System

Nobles Wind Farm


GE 1.5-77 to 1.6-97 RePower

Nacelle

Hub

Blade

Foundation

Tower

= original components

6

5

3

1

2

= component replaced

Down Tower Assembly

6

5

3

1

4

24

60% increase in swept area

77m

16

Construction Process for Repowering• Approximately 6 to 8 months in duration (Q2 2022 to Q4

2022)

• Cranes move from turbine to turbine, removingexisting blades and hub, and installing new.

• Crane paths will be lined with construction matting, andare included in application maps.

• Workspace at each turbine location will be encompassed within a maximum 400-foot radius of the turbine foundation.

• Temporary turning radii on public roads will be installed for component deliveries.


18

Contact Us

18

• [email protected]• 612-330-5583• Track developments at

xcelenergy.com/nobleswind



EERA

David BirkholzEnvironmental Review ManagerEnergy Environmental Review and [email protected]


Draft Site Permit

Draft Site Permit – Amendedo Complete, Updated (2010) Site Permito Turbines Staying Puto Variances May Be Required to Meet 3x5 RD Setbacko Still Have to Meet Commission Permit Conditions

o Soils, Roads, Lighting, Noiseo Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS)


Draft Site Permit

Draft Site Permit – New Studieso Post-construction Noise Monitoringo Post-construction Bird & Bad Fatality Monitoringo Updated Decommissioning Plan


Draft Site Permit

Draft Site Permit – Available for Reviewo EERA Comments & Recommendations on Proposed Draft Site

Permito Complete Draft Site Permito Updated Bird & Bat Conservation (Application)o Updated Decommissioning Plan (Application)


Permit Information

• EERA Project Website

• https://apps.commerce.state.mn.us/eera/web/project/357

• EERA Comments & Recommendations on Draft Permit

• https://apps.commerce.state.mn.us/eera/web/project-file/11723


https://apps.commerce.state.mn.us/eera/web/project/357

https://apps.commerce.state.mn.us/eera/web/project-file/11723

Comments

Comments on the Proposed Repowering and Draft Site Permit

o Human or Environmental Impacts Need to be Addressed?

o Permit Conditions Modified or Added?o Should the Commission Approve the Repowering?


Comments

Commenting Etiquetteo Please press *1 to get into the queue and provide a comment

or ask a questiono Please State and Spell Your Name for the Court Reportero Please Limit Comments to a Few Minuteso Maintain Respect for Others


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