Feb 24 2010
The Teanaway Solar Reserve (TSR) on Monday delivered a supplemental Conditional Use Permit application to Kittitas County to support its request for a permit to construct a 75 MW solar photovoltaic generation facility outside of Cle Elum. If approved by the County, TSR will be one of the largest photovoltaic solar projects in the world.
"Our team has been working diligently for several months to put together a comprehensive application for a world-class renewable energy project that will benefit the people who live and work in the region," said Howard Trott, TSR's managing director.
The supplemental filing is a document that addresses concerns raised during the public comment period. At more than 2,000 pages, the application contains new reports that detail plans for protecting wildlife and vegetation; outline procedures for managing water runoff, dust control, soil erosion, roads, and fire prevention; and minimize traffic and visual impacts.
Application highlights:
- The project will occupy approximately 477 acres of a 982-acre parcel, leaving approximately 500 acres undeveloped. In coordination with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and its Wind Power Guidelines, habitat permanently impacted by the project will be mitigated at a 2:1 ratio.
- The project has been redesigned to further ensure impacts are minimized. These modifications include a reduction in the footprint of the project and the creation of a large corridor through the middle to allow for potential wildlife migration.
- The project will avoid any impact on wetlands.
- The application includes the further reduction of impervious surfaces and maintenance of native grasslands under and around the solar panels.
- TSR will improve applicable segments of Loping Lane and Wiehl Road to county standards and will maintain those sections year round.
- The application includes a detailed process for project decommissioning and site restoration.
- A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of members from state agencies and conservation groups will guide vegetation mitigation and management decisions.
- TSR will create approximately 225 union wage jobs during construction and 35 permanent jobs. Economic studies indicate the project will cost $300-350 million and generate $97.5 million in purchases of goods and services in Kittitas County during construction. TSR is projected to generate $1.5 million in annual property tax revenues to support local services including schools, roads and hospitals. The financial projections have been independently verified by economists at Central Washington University.
Source: www.teanawaysolarreserve.com