sundance solar 75 mw solar energy facility Solar - SUR - Application... · SUNDANCE SOLAR 75 MW SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY . ... Sundance Solar, LLC is a Colorado limited liability company

SUNDANCE SOLAR 75 MW SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY

Prepared by: Sundance Solar, LLC

Elbert County Special Use Review (SUR) Application

August 25, 2017

Sundance Solar, LLC Sundance Solar 75 MWac Solar Energy Facility Special Use by Review (SUR) Application

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Table of Contents Elbert County Special Use by Review (SUR) Application ............................................................................... 3

Project Description and Analysis ................................................................................................................... 3

Project Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 3

Solar Energy Facility Safety ....................................................................................................................... 4

Visual Impacts: ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Traffic: ................................................................................................................................................... 5

Site Access: ............................................................................................................................................ 6

Construction Sequence: ........................................................................................................................ 6

Laydown/ Material Staging Areas: ........................................................................................................ 7

Dust and Air Quality: ............................................................................................................................. 7

Water: ................................................................................................................................................... 8

Grading and Drainage: .......................................................................................................................... 9

Wetlands: .............................................................................................................................................. 9

Wildlife: ................................................................................................................................................. 9

Rural Lifestyle: ..................................................................................................................................... 10

Monitoring and Maintenance: ............................................................................................................ 11

Vegetation Maintenance .................................................................................................................... 11

Hazardous Materials: .......................................................................................................................... 12

Waste-water and Trash: ...................................................................................................................... 12

Decommissioning of Site: .................................................................................................................... 12

Permits and Approvals: ....................................................................................................................... 12

Existing Easements and Leases on Site ............................................................................................... 13

Surrounding Terrain ............................................................................................................................ 13

Cypress Creek Renewables and Sundance Solar LLC (Applicant):....................................................... 13

Risk from Natural Hazards: ................................................................................................................. 14

Local Government and Services: ......................................................................................................... 14

Impact on Residents:........................................................................................................................... 14

Principles of Conservation in Project Design: ..................................................................................... 15

Local Benefits: ..................................................................................................................................... 15

Applicant Information ................................................................................................................................. 16

Applicant Address and Contact ............................................................................................................... 16


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Background on Cypress Creek Renewables, LLC and Sundance Solar, LLC ............................................. 16

Project Finances ...................................................................................................................................... 17

Project Costs and Financing Structure ................................................................................................ 17

Economic Development ...................................................................................................................... 17

Solar Energy Overview ................................................................................................................................ 18

Utility-Scale Solar Overview .................................................................................................................... 18

Solar Photovoltaic Equipment ................................................................................................................ 18

Solar Energy Facility Equipment ............................................................................................................. 19

Site Selection Process ............................................................................................................................. 19

Exhibits ........................................................................................................................................................ 20


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Elbert County Special Use by Review (SUR) Application Submitted by Sundance Solar, LLC

Project Description and Analysis Sundance Solar, LLC is a Colorado limited liability company that is indirectly owned by

Cypress Creek Renewables, LLC (CCR). Sundance Solar, LLC respectfully requests approval of a Special Use by Review (SUR) Permit to construct, operate, and maintain a 75 MWac Solar Energy Facility.

The 75 MWac Solar Energy Facility may be referred to herein as “Sundance Solar” or “the Project.” We submit this request on behalf of the property owner, David and Linda Ehmann, E-Associates. Cypress Creek Renewables, LLC, indirect owner of Sundance Solar, LLC, will provide the financial backing and technical expertise to ensure the success of Sundance Solar. The Project site is located immediately southeast of the intersection of Kiowa-Bennett Road and County Road 154, consisting of a portion of Parcel Number 7327200027 and Parcel Number 7321400259. The Project includes roughly 1,050 acres and is currently zoned Rural Ag.

As proposed, the site will be used for the location of a utility-scale solar energy facility. The site location has been carefully selected with specific evaluation criteria, including topographic data, hydrology screenings, and an in-depth understanding of the local grid operated by IREA. It is our pleasure to provide Elbert County with a long-term source of clean, sustainable energy.

Sundance Solar, LLC will own, operate, and maintain the system for the length of the lease term. Allowing the property to develop as a solar farm provides an opportunity for locally generated energy resources in Elbert County, creates income for the land owners, and enhances the tax base of the County. The Project will also help Elbert County and the State of Colorado achieve the sustainability goals identified in the Elbert County Master Plan (see details below) and in the Colorado Renewable Energy Standard.

Project Summary Sundance Solar will contain rows of Photovoltaic (PV) cell panels mounted on posts set in

the ground. These rows of panels are referred to as “solar arrays.” The solar arrays will be mounted on a tracking system, which allows them to follow the sun throughout the day. Energy generation is maximized in this configuration, as the panels face east in the morning, are horizontal at midday, and face west in the afternoon. Solar components will comply with the current edition of the National Electric Code, be UL listed (or equivalent), and be designed with an anti-reflective coating. All solar panels will be sourced from Tier 1 manufacturers as rated on the Bloomberg New Energy Finance PV Module Maker Tiering System.1

1 Bloomberg New Energy Finance, November 2016. BNEF PV Module Maker Tiering System. <https://data.bloomberglp.com/bnef/sites/4/2012/12/bnef_2012-12-03_PVModuleTiering.pdf> Accessed on February 1, 2017.


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The anticipated power output of the Project is approximately 189,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, enough to power 16,674 single-family homes per year.2 The clean, renewable energy that is generated by the Project will be sold to Intermountain Rural Electrical Association (IREA) for use by consumers to replace energy produced from a non-renewable source. Allowing the property to develop as a solar energy facility provides many benefits, including: an opportunity for locally generated, clean energy resources in Elbert County; income creation for the land owners; and economic investment and increased tax revenue for Elbert County.

The Project will also help Elbert County and the State of Colorado advance the renewable energy and energy efficiency goals. In the Elbert County Master Plan, Section V. General Policies, number 17 says, “The County encourages energy conservation strategies, energy-efficient design and renewable energy resources to be incorporated at all levels of development.”

Sundance Solar, LLC expects to invest approximately $136,318,000 into the Project. Through this investment, Elbert County can expect: spending of over $73,652,301 in the local economy; 167.8 full-time temporary employees (FTE) to be employed locally during construction, and additional tax revenue over the lifetime of the Project (minimum of 20 years, maximum of 40 years per both the ground lease agreement with the landowner and the Interconnection Agreement with the local utility). The project expects to incur local annual spending of $964,712 and employ 10.49 local maintenance jobs over the life of the project. CCR is a proud partner of each jurisdiction that we work with and we look forward to a continued relationship with Elbert County.

Once applicable permits have been obtained through Elbert County and the State of Colorado, Sundance Solar, LLC will construct, own, operate and maintain the solar energy facility for the course of the lease (minimum terms is 20 years with extension periods up to an additional 20 years). The Project will be a low-impact development requiring little to no County services or financial assistance. The Project will not negatively impact public safety or general welfare, nor will it affect the comfort and convenience of the public in Elbert County or of the immediate neighborhood.

Solar Energy Facility Safety

The Sundance Solar facility will be a safe facility that will not impact the well-being of local residents or Elbert County in general. Solar energy facilities are very safe, with simple and proven technologies. Further, CCR sources panels from Tier 1 rated manufacturers, the highest rating in the Bloomberg New Energy Finance PV Module Maker Tiering System3

2 US EPA (2015). eGRID, U.S. annual national emission factor, year 2012 data. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. 3 Bloomberg New Energy Finance, November 2016. BNEF PV Module Maker Tiering System. <https://data.bloomberglp.com/bnef/sites/4/2012/12/bnef_2012-12-03_PVModuleTiering.pdf> Accessed on February 1, 2017.


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With one to three vehicle visits per day on average, the Project will not be a significant traffic generator and will not cause undue harm to the surrounding road networks, to local responders, or to the Colorado Department of Transportation. By contrast, the national average for a single family home is 9.5 vehicle trips per day.4

The Project will be constructed according to all required building and electrical codes and safety measures and will be required to obtain a County Building Permit. Site plans will be approved by all applicable local authorities, and regularly visited throughout construction as required by the ACLDC or by Colorado State Building Code. Interconnection Agreements (IA) are carried out as specified by IREA. Energized system components, such as inverters, will be commissioned by the manufacturers’ technicians. The Project will employ required lock-out measures and safety warnings. A perimeter security fence will prevent trespassing and vandalism. The active area of the Project will be enclosed by an eight foot (8’) high opaque fence and gated for security purposes. Access codes to the gate will be provided to the Elbert County Sheriff’s Department, Kiowa Fire District, and Elbert County emergency service providers. Vehicular access to the site is adequate for the use proposed and for emergency services, as indicated in the Exhibit A – Site Plan set.

The regular vegetation control methods prevent buildup of debris that could otherwise pose risk of fire material, thus Sundance Solar will pose no increased risk of fires to the surrounding areas.

Visual Impacts:

Solar arrays are shorter in height and generate less traffic than a single-family home. The Project will also be screened from adjoining properties by an 8' opaque fence on all boundaries of the property. There will be no signage or lights on the property to serve the project. Given the low height of the solar array (a maximum of twelve (12) feet), an area of potential impact for visual effects can be established as the Project location/parcel and its immediately abutting properties. An evaluation of the visual impacts in similar projects developed by Cypress Creek Renewables typically conclude that the setting of the Project and its surrounding areas will remain unchanged. In sum, Sundance Solar concludes that the project will not result in significant impacts to the aesthetic or visual quality of the geographic vicinity.

Traffic:

The site will generate almost no traffic - fewer trips than a single-family home after construction. The facility will not be staffed daily and employees are expected to visit the site 5-9 times annually for maintenance. The anticipated number of vehicles to visit the site during construction will be 25-75 personal vehicles and 2-20 delivery trucks per day. Upon completion of the facility installation, no more than 1-3 vehicles are anticipated to visit the site daily. A temporary rise in vehicle traffic during the 9 to 12-month construction period is anticipated.

4 U.S. Department of Transportation . Summary of Travel Trends; 2009 National Household Travel Survey. 2009 <http://nhts.ornl.gov/2009/pub/stt.pdf>


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Given the limited number of vehicles visiting the site over the construction period, traffic patterns are not anticipated to be impacted. Additionally, there will be no significant increase to traffic once the facility is operational. In sum, no significant impacts are anticipated for this item.

Site Access:

Solar energy facilities are low-impact developments that can utilize existing right-of-way infrastructure for site access. Sundance Solar will use existing roads, including County Road 154, and Creek 45 Road to access the site. This will minimize the need for new disturbance for the construction and maintenance of the Project. Access will need to be permitted with Elbert County and we will work to meet the County access criteria and Rural Engineering Standards. Site access may require a Master Road Use Agreement which we will work with Elbert County to obtain. We will work with the Elbert County to ensure that no additional public improvements are required for the Project. County roads will be brought back to preconstruction condition after construction is complete.

There are 3 currently proposed all-weather gravel surface access drives with emergency turn-around and 30’x30’ site triangle and an access gate. The access roads, demonstrated in Exhibit A - Site Plan Sheet 4 and 5, will ensure safe access to our site for construction and maintenance workers, as well as for emergency services, including meeting the Kiowa Fire District requirements. The access road will include a hammerhead-shaped turnaround area. Easements will be acquired to cross property not under lease with Sundance Solar.

Construction Sequence: While each site is unique, Sundance Solar, LLC will use standard construction and

operation procedures used for our other solar energy facilities in the United States. The construction of Sundance Solar is expected to take approximately 9 to 12 months. We estimate that approximately 167.78 FTE laborers will be required for the construction effort.

The construction and commission of Sundance Solar will follow the general sequence shown in Figure 2-2 Construction Sequence below:


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Figure 2-2 Construction Sequence

Laydown/ Material Staging Areas:

Two to three temporary laydown/material staging areas will be present on site to store materials and equipment and to assemble structures for the duration of construction of Sundance Solar. Each site would be approximately 150' x 150' in size and located near existing roads within the Project Area. The laydown/staging areas will be used to store material and equipment prior to delivery to the structure sites, to park vehicles, and possibly for locating a portable construction trailer and portable toilets and washing stations which will be serviced on a recommended schedule. The staging areas will not impact environmentally sensitive areas.

Dust and Air Quality:

We will utilize pre- and post-construction measures to address site specific conditions and ensure that air quality standards are maintained during active construction and post-construction operation and maintenance. Dust abatement, if needed, will be applied with water. Water for this purpose can be supplied from offsite sources and provided by truck(s). Sundance Solar’s impact to air quality will be minimal due to temporary exhaust emissions from construction equipment used to install solar array support structures. Minimal dust will temporarily be generated during the solar array construction which is anticipated to last for 9 to 12 months. Dust abatement in the form of water mitigation in tanks on trucks may be used if necessary. The water for this use will be sourced from a municipal location based on the contractor and that contractor’s appropriate permits used to provide the trucks, tanks, and water. A Spill Prevention,


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Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan will be prepared prior to applying for building permit and will be stored onsite at a location determined in the building permit application with the other plans being stored onsite during construction. Once the facility is constructed, it will be emission-free and will reduce the emissions from the processing and combustion of fossil-fuels at other locations. Vehicle emission associated with visits to maintain the facility are not expected to contribute significantly to increased carbon emission or other greenhouse gases.

Water: There will be no significant impact to water quality nor water resources in Elbert County

due to the Project. Solar energy facilities are low-impact developments that do not affect water quality. Sundance Solar will not be connected to County water or sewer services. There is no water used during the construction of a solar energy facility, except for minimal amounts to aid in fugitive dust control. The Project will be consistent with provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Water Quality Control Division.

Surface Water Quality: There are no state, local, or county regulations regarding jurisdictional waters, including

buffers or setbacks in this specific location per the Wetlands Delineation Report (see attachment D – Sundance Wetlands Report). Therefore, the only potential for surface water impacts is from stormwater runoff leaving the site.

Sundance Solar plans to disturb approximately 4.7 acres with impervious surfaces (see Exhibit E – Drainage Report). However the solar area of disturbance in total is estimated to be 606 acres, therefore, a construction stormwater permit will be required by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) Water Quality Division. A Notice of Intent (NOI) for Colorado Discharge Permit System (CDPS) Permit Number COR-030000 and a Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (CSWPPP) will be prepared by Sundance Solar to limit sedimentation and erosion impacts to stormwater quality from construction activities. Sundance Solar will follow drainage impact mitigation measures proposed to Elbert County in Exhibit E – Drainage Report. Furthermore, a total of thirty (30) permanent transformers will be onsite and temporary fuel storage may be present during construction. All fuel and transformer oil will be contained in accordance with applicable regulations and a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan will be developed to address permanent oil storage. The SPCC plan will be prepared prior to applying for the building permit and will be stored onsite at a location determined it the building permit application with other plans being stored onsite during construction.

After construction is complete, no additional impacts to the land area are anticipated. Both during and after construction no impacts are anticipated to impact meandering characteristics or limits of any streambeds.


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Groundwater Quality: Sundance Solar falls outside of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 100-year

flood plain. Local groundwater flow direction may vary depending on area groundwater pumping, surface waterbodies, land use and development, localized topography, and other macro and micro features. Further information and detailed maps are provided in the Exhibit C - Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA).

The Phase 1 ESA also conducted a GeoSearch database review of water well listings and identified three (3) water wells on the site. The wells are depicted in the GeoSearch Water Well Report in Attachment 2 of Exhibit C. No water wells were observed during the site visits. The facility has no plans to develop additional water wells or utilize any existing wells. Based on the research, site visit, and report for the Phase 1 ESA, no impacts are anticipated to groundwater levels, flow direction, quality, artesian pressure, recharge rates, recharge sources, water storage, or seepage loss.

Grading and Drainage:

Care is taken to design the site to minimize grading by individually setting poles to support the solar arrays. During construction, erosion control measures will be maintained in accordance with County regulations and the site will comply with County stormwater regulations. All erosion, sediment control, and stormwater measures shall comply with the Elbert County regulations as well as applicable CDPHE provisions. Sundance Solar will follow drainage impact mitigation measures outlined in a drainage plan. All fuel and transformer oil will be contained in accordance with applicable regulations.

Wetlands:

Sundance Solar has employed an environmental consultant to conduct a wetland and waterbody delineation for Sundance Solar. The consultant observed five (5) waterbodies totaling 0.40 acres on the subject site. These waters lie within topographically low areas along drainage swales. These drainage swales have historically been dammed in order to create stock ponds for agricultural activities onsite. The water features lack stream hydrology and do not exhibit OHWM or traditional stream beds and banks. Multiple drainage features were observed on the site; however, these features did not exhibit OHWM, or stream bed and banks; therefore, these features were not considered to be waters of the US according to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) definitions.

Per the FEMA FIRM map, the site is outside of the 100-year floodplain of Kiowa Creek. The 100-year floodplain for Kiowa Creek is located approximately 550 feet west of the site; therefore, the wetlands delineated within the site fall outside the 100-year floodplain.

Please reference Exhibit D – Sundance Solar Wetlands Report for supplementary information.

Wildlife: Sundance Solar has employed an environmental consultant to evaluate the species

occurrences for Elbert County provided by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). The


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Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Area Wildlife Manager has also been contacted to review the site plan.

Per the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Northeast Region Energy Liaison, the site contains the following recommendations:

• Potential denning habitat for swift fox. If site disturbance is proposed to occur between March 15 and July 15, Sundance Solar will survey for swift fox per CPW protocol, and limit activity to within 0.25 miles of any active dens.

• Potential nesting habitat for grassland birds. Sundance Solar will conduct grassland bird nest surveys if initial site disturbance is proposed to occur between March 1 and August 15. If active nests are observed, then a 150 m buffer around active ness until the chicks fledge will be maintained.

• Potential presence of prairie dogs. If present, Sundance Solar will conduct a burrowing owl nest survey if initial site disturbance is proposed to occur between March 15 to October 31. Sundance Solar will maintain the recommended 300-foot buffer from the active burrows.

• Fencing will be 8’ (no wires) to allow for big game movement to/from Kiowa Creek and such that they don’t get trapped on the project site. Fencing will be as close to the project as possible to allow for wildlife movement outside of the project area as National Electric Code (NEC) requires the entire photovoltaic site be fenced.

• CPW identified an active ferruginous hawk nest just east of the project site. Sundance Solar will preclude development within 0.5-mile of this nest between February 1 and July 15.

• Any above ground powerlines will be constructed in accordance with APLIC standards to protect flying/perching raptors in the area.

• Any active nest locations will be submitted to CPW. • There will be no night time work. • CPW will be notified if there are changes or updates to the scope and timing of

the project.

Rural Lifestyle:

Sundance Solar will not significantly interfere with the rural lifestyle and the opportunity for solitude in the natural environment. Solar energy facilities are good neighbors – they are quiet and they generate less traffic than a single-family home. The Project will not require manned labor on site, nor will it require County sewer, water, or other services. The facility will be completely enclosed by an eight foot (8’) tall opaque fence. There is no noise, odor, dust, or pollution associated with solar energy facilities. As such, the Project will not significantly interfere with the rural lifestyle and the opportunity for solitude in the natural environment. The project will, however, remove some opportunity for active traditional farming to occur on the parcels.


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The landowner has used approximately 65 acres of the total acreage to be included for this project for hay while the remainder is used as dry grazing land for cattle. The Project will not significantly interfere with the preservation of cultural resources, including historical structures and sites, agricultural resources.

Monitoring and Maintenance:

Once constructed, the Project will require very little maintenance. The site will be monitored, in real time, remotely and with a local response team. There will be no need to build travel infrastructure or complete public improvements to accommodate traffic. Electrical engineers will service electrical equipment, primarily the inverters and transformers, on average once per month. Solar PV panels have a very low failure rate (approximately one in 10,000 per year) and are warrantied for twenty-five (25) years. Sundance Solar, LLC will conduct an annual performance audit and inspection to assess the quality of equipment. Module replacement rarely occurs outside of these annual performance inspections and we would expect to perform module replacement less than 10 times over the initial 25-year term. Solar panels are easily replaced from inventory stores and financing to change-out the array at warranty’s end has been built into our cost models. Maintenance will likely create 5-9 visits to the site on average per year.

Vegetation Maintenance

Sundance Solar, LLC is committed to landscaping best practices that stabilize the soil to add strength and durability for the long-term success of the Project and the health of the land. Considering the dry climate in which the Sundance Solar facility is located, we anticipate that little vegetation maintenance will be required. A Solar Project Vegetation Management Plan will be provided to the Kiowa Fire District for review and approval. That said, we will re-seed, where needed, the portions of the property that will be impacted by large construction equipment. There is not a single solution that works best, though we will work to employ best practices and techniques that are most appropriate for the local environment based on factors such as: Preventing runoff; Carbon sequestration; Pollination and other insect services; Air quality concerns; Invasive species resistance; Viable wildflower areas; and Rate of fescue growth.

Sundance Solar, LLC can employ practices to minimize use of mowing and pesticides or herbicide, such as utilizing local/native vegetation with slow growth cycles. We anticipate mowing will occur at the Sundance Solar site at maximum six (6) times a year. In rare circumstances where herbicides are deemed necessary, an effort will be made to minimize use and only apply bio-degradable, EPA-registered, organic solutions that are non-toxic to pets and wildlife. Sustainable, long-term management practices and the promotion of healthy biodiversity within local ecosystems is a priority for Sundance Solar, LLC.


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Hazardous Materials:

The solar PV panels are composed of non-toxic materials, do not erode, and do not produce any emissions.5 Sundance Solar, LLC strives to limit the use of hazardous materials on site for construction-related activities. Additionally, Sundance Solar, LLC enters into an agreement with each subcontractor prior to beginning any work, stipulating the following: (1) the subcontractor shall provide the company with written notice of all substances and materials, including hazardous materials, the subcontractor will use in the performance of the work, as required by Federal, State and/or local regulations; (2) the subcontractor will provide the company copies of all material safety data sheets covering all hazardous materials to be furnished, used, applied or stored by the subcontractor at the site in connection with the work prior to entry at the site; and, (3) the subcontractor will be obligated, at their own expense, to remove, transport and dispose of any hazardous materials. Contractors and subcontractors will be required to use secondary containment for fuels as well as any hazardous materials.

Waste-water and Trash:

Sundance Solar, LLC and its subcontractors shall maintain the site in a clean, neat and safe condition. As the work progresses, materials, tools, waste materials, rubbish and debris will be removed accordingly. Sundance Solar, LLC and its subcontractors will incur all costs of clean-up. All equipment and materials used to provide operation and maintenance to Sundance Solar will be hauled in by the company or its subcontractors and all waste created as a result will be hauled to necessary recycling or waste facilities by the same party.

Portable toilets and washing stations will be provided during construction and will be cleaned and services regularly. The staging areas will not impact environmentally sensitive areas.

Dumpsters will be onsite during construction and will contain lids to mitigate any unwanted distribution of trash/waste and will have a regular disposal schedule with a local licensed contractor.

Decommissioning of Site: Sundance Solar, LLC guarantees that the Sundance Solar facility shall be removed, at the

expense of the operator or its successors, in the unlikely event that the system ceases power production or the land lease expires or is terminated. Sundance Solar has a legal obligation with our landowner to decommission each project at end of operational life.

Permits and Approvals:

Prior to any land disturbance, Sundance Solar, LLC can and will obtain all necessary permits from County, State and Federal regulatory authorities for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Project in Elbert County. Sundance Solar, LLC will obtain Elbert County Land-use, Building, GESC, and Utility Right-Of-Way (ROW) Permits or Master Road Use 5 Electric Power Research Institute and California Energy Commission, August 2003. Potential Health and Environmental Impacts Associated with the Manufacture and Use of Photovoltaic Cells. <http://www.energy.ca.gov/reports/500-04-053.PDF> Accessed on February 3, 2017.


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Agreement in connection with the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Project. Material permits applicable to the Project will include GESC, Building, State, Stormwater discharge, Air (fugitive dust), and Utility Permits.

Existing Easements and Leases on Site

The title commitment for Sundance Solar indicates utility easements and mineral leases exist on site. Sundance Solar, LLC will ensure that the Project will not impede utility easements, nor will it affect existing leases on site. CCR will work with mineral owners to ensure no negative impact to the solar facility. There are currently separate minerals owners and CCR will work with the landowner and minerals owners to form agreements that ensure no surface use that would negatively impact the solar facility. If required, CCR will enter into an encroachment agreement with utility easement owners to access the site.

Surrounding Terrain

The Sundance Solar site is an ideal site for a solar energy facility, considering its access to the existing utility grid, lack of environmental constraints, and harmonious surrounding land uses. The Project will be located on parcels characterized by rural and semi-flat to gently rolling topography, with occasional drainages and ravines. The land use of the area is primarily dryland farming and ranching. The land is underlain by loamy soils covered by shortgrass vegetation or agricultural fields. Most of the zoning surrounding the proposed site is A-1 with a parcel to the north zoned Agricultural Estate (AE).

Cypress Creek Renewables and Sundance Solar LLC (Applicant):

Cypress Creek Renewables, LLC, the indirect owner of Sundance Solar, LLC, has a proven track record in the utility-scale solar industry and has grown to become the nation’s second largest developer of utility-scale solar. With more than three gigawatts of solar energy production deployed or in development, our solar energy facilities and their utility partners are projected to provide enough clean energy to power nearly one million homes in the coming years.

CCR is fully integrated - we finance, build, and operate our solar energy facilities. This process guarantees widespread, affordable access to clean energy. CCR has over 300 team members and has invested over $1.5 billion into solar energy facilities and renewable energy production since 2014.

The CCR management team has a combined track record of developing and/or financing over 250 operational utility-scale projects throughout the U.S. We currently have solar energy facilities in operation or in development across 13 states, as depicted in Figure 1-1. At the end of 2016, we achieved an operating portfolio of over one gigawatt, making CCR the fastest-growing developer of utility-scale solar energy facilities in the United States.

Sundance Solar is technically feasible given CCR’s level of expertise and experience in utility-scale solar development. The costs are financially feasible for CCR to support through a combination of operating capital and investor financing, including tax equity and debt partners.


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Risk from Natural Hazards:

Sundance Solar is not subject to significant risk from natural hazards. Solar panels are wind and fire rated to withstand natural hazards. The solar panels are designed to withstand golf-ball sized hail going 100 miles per hour. Furthermore, no geologic or natural hazard conditions were identified as a result of the Phase I ESA; therefore, no risks from natural hazard areas need to be mitigated. The equipment has lightning arrestors to mitigate against lightning strikes. The racking is designed to withstand recommended wind loads for the area in which the project is located.

Local Government and Services:

Sundance Solar will require few, if any, County services. Any county services needed may be the local fire and emergency medical teams that could be called if there is an incident during construction. After construction, the system performance will be monitored remotely. This project will require an approved Fire Service Application with the Kiowa Fire Protection District so they will be aware of the system. Solar energy facilities are low-impact developments which do not require water or sewer services. The site will generate almost no traffic - fewer trips than a single-family home after construction. Employees are expected to visit the site regularly (approximately 1-3 vehicles per day) for maintenance. The site will have access from N County Road 154. Access provisions will be provided to emergency service agencies.

Impact on Residents:

Sundance Solar will not cause undue financial burden on the County or its residents. The Project will not require financial assistance. The Project will require few, if any, County services. The county services that may be required would potentially be the fire district and/or emergency services during the construction phase if any incidents were to occur that required their attention. The Operator, or its successors, will be the party responsible for decommissioning the site in the unlikely event that the system ceases power production or the land lease expires or is terminated.

In contrast, the Project will be a financial benefit to the County and its residents. The Project will generate significant tax revenues over the course of its lifetime, which can enable increases in County services. Sundance Solar, LLC expects investments in the local (Elbert County and vicinity) economy to amount to over $73,600,000 through the purchase of materials, fuel, food, and housing during the construction period. Furthermore, expected local spending for ongoing operation and maintenance of the Project is expected to contribute $965,000 annually. Sundance Solar, LLC will be responsible for any maintenance, repairs, upgrades or decommissioning associated with the Project. For a more detailed discussion regarding the breakdown of the local spending during construction and local annual spending as well as local jobs during construction, please reference the Jobs and Economic Development Impact Model (JEDI) developed by the National Renewable Energy Lab at http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/jedi/.

http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/jedi/


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Principles of Conservation in Project Design:

The planning, design and operation of Sundance Solar will reflect principles of resource conservation, energy efficiency, and recycling or reuse. Solar energy has become a public necessity as demand for alternatives to fossil fuels heightens. Solar energy is a clean, inexpensive, unlimited resource with very minimal environmental impact. The Project will help the State of Colorado achieve alternative energy goals as identified by the Colorado RES, as well as help offset up to 117,024 tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to approximately 11,283 cars off the road or 16,674 homes powered per year.6 Resource conservation and energy efficiency are foundational principles of our development philosophy. We also strive to recycle and reuse materials throughout construction. All material waste will be collected and transported off-site to the appropriate recycling or solid waste facility.

Local Benefits:

The long-term benefits accruing to the County and its citizens from Sundance Solar outweigh the temporary losses of any resources within the County, or the temporary losses of opportunities to develop such resources. The operational life of a solar energy facility is approximately forty (40) years. Solar energy facilities allow property owners to maintain large tracts of land that are easily redeveloped at an appropriate time in the future. Benefits and costs are summarized below:

Potential Project benefits include:

Direct local investment during construction of over $73,600,000 (Elbert County and Vicinity – does not include equipment such as PV panels, inverters, and racking);

Increased tax revenue for Elbert County; Contributes to IREA's fulfillment of the State of Colorado Renewable Energy Standard

(RES); Satisfies the Elbert County Comprehensive Plan (ACCP) directives on energy efficiency; Lease payments to Landowner provide additional income; Local spending for Project construction materials, and other goods and services; Economic growth for Elbert County and the State of Colorado as a result of local spending

for Project construction, and other goods and services; Generating renewable, sustainable energy for the State of Colorado; Diversified electrical mix in the grid; and Support to community organizations (i.e., fire, ambulance, schools, libraries, community

centers, etc.).

Potential Project costs include:

Visual impacts due to solar array structures;

6 US EPA (2015). eGRID, U.S. annual national emission factor, year 2012 data. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.


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Minimal community and local governmental service demands, including minor impacts to emergency, fire, and safety services; and

The area used for solar will not be used for agricultural purposes.

Applicant Information Applicant Address and Contact Company: Contact: Cypress Creek Renewables Michelle Zimmerman 3250 Ocean Park Blvd, Suite 335 Phone: (303) 881-3087 Santa Monica, California 90405 Email: [email protected] Background on Cypress Creek Renewables, LLC and Sundance Solar, LLC

Cypress Creek Renewables, LLC (CCR) is a developer and long-term owner of solar energy facilities with diversified development assets across the United States. We use a data driven approach to identify and develop underutilized land on which we build solar energy facilities ranging from 2 – 20 MW, on average. With more than six gigawatts of solar energy production deployed or in development, our solar energy facilities and the utility companies distributing or transmitting the power are projected to provide enough clean energy to power nearly a million homes in the coming years. An overview of our current operational and development portfolio is illustrated below in Figure 1-1 Cypress Creek Renewables Portfolio Overview.

Figure 1-1 Cypress Creek Renewables Portfolio Overview

mailto:[email protected]


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CCR utilizes an integrated business model by managing the financing, construction and operation of our solar energy facilities. This process guarantees widespread, affordable access to clean energy. As of December 2016, CCR has 973 MW in operation, with another 5,600 MW at various stages of development across the country. We expect to deploy 990 MW across eight states by the end of 2017. Our current operational portfolio ranks us as the second-largest utility-scale solar developer in the nation, with a future development plan that includes over 5 gigawatts of utility-scale solar energy facilities.

CCR has over 400 team members with more than 10 years of engineering, procurement, and construction experience. This team has worked to develop over 250 solar energy facilities in their tenure. CCR has invested over $1.5 billion into solar energy production since 2014. We are recognized nationwide as a leader in solar energy development and operation, with strong partnerships with utility companies, financial institutions, and the communities that host our solar energy facilities.

Please reference the Exhibit J – Cypress Creek Renewables 2017 Q1 Operational Projects Brochure for supplementary information.

Project Finances Project Costs and Financing Structure

Sundance Solar, LLC expects to invest approximately $136,300,00 into the Project. These costs are based on build cost assumptions and include all construction, material, labor, and professional service-related expenditures. CCR operating capital, in combination with tax equity and debt partners, will provide the financial backing for the Project.

Economic Development

The solar industry is one of the fastest growing and most robust emerging industries nationwide. The solar industry was the largest employer in Electrical Power Generation in the US in 2016, with 374,000 jobs.7 Specifically, the construction sector of the solar industry grew twenty-five (25) percent in 2016. An increased demand for labor is an important example of how solar energy has contributed to local economies across the country.

Based on estimates by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model, the construction and installation period of the Sundance Solar facility will result in the creation of approximately 167.78 FTE jobs during construction and installation and over $73,600,000 of direct spending into the local economy, which includes expenditures on parts and labor, goods and services, fuel and lodging, dining and other consumer activities (does not include expenditures on equipment such as PV panels, racking, and inverters). During the ongoing operational life of the Project, approximately 10.49 FTE local maintenance jobs will be created and local investment is expected to exceed $964,700 annually. Total jobs 7 US Department of Energy, January 2017. 2017 US Energy and Employment Report. <https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/01/f34/2017%20US%20Energy%20and%20Jobs%20Report_0.pdf> Accessed on February 2, 2017.


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during construction will amount to 985.68 FTE (full time employees during construction period only) with total annual spending estimated at $16,800,000.8

The Project will also generate additional tax revenue for Elbert County. Taxes on the infrastructure and the land of Sundance Solar will provide Elbert County a valuable funding source for public improvements, educational investment, economic development, and other initiatives for the next forty (40) years (lease is up to 40-year term).

Solar Energy Overview Conversion of sunlight into electric energy is not a new concept and, in fact, solar technologies have been around since the 1970s. In recent years, panel and equipment technologies have improved greatly while costs have fallen significantly. This market development has led to an industry boom in utility-scale solar and roof-top solar development. CCR is focused on utility-scale solar developments.

Utility-Scale Solar Overview

The basic components of any utility-scale solar energy facility include: PV panels; inverters; combiner boxes; transformers; wires and conductor cables; structural racking system for PV modules; and perimeter fencing. Solar electricity production includes the following five basic components:

1. Electrical Power Generation – Sunlight strikes the PV panel cells, which convert photons of light into electrons, producing low-voltage, Direct Current (DC) electricity.

2. Combination box – The low-voltage, DC electricity is fed through cables from each PV panel to a combiner box.

3. Inverter – The low-voltage, DC electricity is fed through cables from the combiner box to an inverter, where it is converted to low-voltage, Alternating Current (AC) electricity.

4. Transformer – The transformer steps up the low-voltage, AC electricity to the appropriate voltage so that it can be fed into the electrical transmission system.

5. Utility Transmission – Electricity is sent through the electrical transmission lines to utility distribution systems for delivery to ratepayers.

Please refer to Exhibit A - Site Plan Sheets for elevations of the Inverter and Transformer and Exhibit H - General Site Details for illustrations of typical electrical configurations.

Solar Photovoltaic Equipment

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are composed of non-toxic materials, do not erode, and do not produce any emissions. The solar PV panel is an inert crystal composed of non-toxic materials

8 National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) Model” <http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/jedi/about_jedi.html>


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similar to a glass plane. The sealed PV panels do not leach metals into the environment and are recycled at the end of their lifecycle. C-Si modules are produced by sourcing high-quality, pure silicon or quartz. The silicon is heated until it melts, after which a crystal is grown from a source ingot. The silicon crystal is sliced into thin wafers and mounted onto a durable backing material, after which the panel is encapsulated by glass with an anti-reflective coating and an aluminum frame.

Solar Energy Facility Equipment

Solar facilities are simple constructions that employ the following basic equipment:

• Solar PV panels; • Inverters; • Transformers; • Wires and conductor cables; • Structural racking system for PV modules; and • Perimeter fencing.

Most sites require minimal grading, and an entire facility can often be installed with minimal soil disturbance. Structural frames, also referred to as racks, are driven into the ground with steel beams on which PV panels are mounted. The inverters and transformers, which receive the power from the solar panels, are mounted on top of concrete pads.

Site Selection Process

Exhibit A – Site Plan set illustrates the site location in Elbert County. CCR uses a geographical and data-driven approach to select potential solar energy facility sites. When deciding whether to execute a lease option to allow for solar development, CCR evaluates land based on the following criteria, among others:

• Proximity to relevant infrastructure, including electrical substations, existing three phase lines, and access roads;

• Likely absence of wetlands and other protected landforms;

• Slope of land and direction of this slope; and

• Likely absence of threatened or endangered species.

If a site meets the criteria above and terms can be reached with the landowner, a lease is generally executed. The Sundance Solar site was one of a number of sites CCR identified that fit our criteria in IREA’s service territory. CCR was able to engage the landowner in their interest in solar development and execute a lease. During the initial development stages, we further analyzed the site against a number of diligence criteria, which verified that the screening process had been effective in selecting an ideal site for a solar energy facility.


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Exhibits

Exhibit A – Special Use by Review (SUR) Site Plan

Exhibit B – Section 3-305 of Elbert County 1041 Permit Application

Exhibit C – Phase 1 ESA

Exhibit D – Wetlands Delineation and Report

Exhibit E – Drainage Report

Exhibit F – Grading, Erosion, and Sediment Control (GESC) Plan

Exhibit G – GESC Report

Exhibit H - General Site Details

Exhibit I – Sample Maintenance Schedule

Exhibit J – Cypress Creek Renewables 2017 Q1 Operational Projects Brochure

Exhibit K – Adjacent Landowners Map and List

Exhibit L – Title Report

Documents

sundance solar 75 mw solar energy facility Solar - SUR - Application... · SUNDANCE SOLAR 75 MW SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY . ... Sundance Solar, LLC is a Colorado limited liability company