4.a5 Argo Navis_CUP application_04122016
Argo Navis Community Solar Gardens, LLC | 7650 Edinborough Way, Ste 725, Edina, MN 55435| P 952.988.9000 | F
952.988.9001
Argo Navis Community Solar Gardens, LLC
Application for a Conditional Use Permit
Applicants:
Argo Navis Community Solar Gardens, LLC
_______________________
By: Nathan Franzen
Vice President of Solar
Application Prepared by Geronimo Energy on behalf of Argo Navis Community Solar Gardens,
LLC.
Permit Fee Calculation:
Application fee: $ 200.00
Variance fee: $ 150.00
April 12, 2016 Conditional Use Permit Application Page 2 of 29
1 Introduction
1.1 SUMMARY
Argo Navis Community Solar Gardens, LLC (ANCSG) respectfully submits this application to
the City of Scandia’s City Council for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) within in the Agriculture
Core District. ANCSG is submitting this application for an up to 3 megawatt (MW) community
solar garden (Project) under Chapter 2, Section 4.34 of the Scandia Zoning Regulations.
ANCSG respectfully requests that the City Council issues a CUP for the Project to be permitted,
constructed, owned, and operated by ANCSG Community Solar Gardens, LLC. The Project has
included the Site Plan in Appendix A for review.
The Project will be located in the New Scandia Township in Section 18, Township 32N, Range
19W, Washington County, Minnesota. The Project will consist of up to 3, 1 MW solar gardens
that will generate enough energy to power approximately 400 homes annually and avoid the
emission of 2,371 metric tons of carbon annually.1 The Project plans to interconnect to Xcel
Energy’s existing distribution system near the Project.
The Project will be marketed as a host for Xcel Energy’s Solar Rewards Community program.
Under the program, Xcel Energy customers may subscribe to a solar garden and receive a credit
on their monthly Xcel Energy bill based upon the production of their garden subscription. The
final size of the facility will be dependent upon final interconnection parameters, final equipment
design and demand for garden subscriptions. The Project as proposed in this application
represents what ANCSG anticipates building. See Appendix D for additional information.
ANCSG is being developed by Geronimo Energy, LLC (Geronimo) a renewable energy
developer based in Edina, Minnesota. Geronimo is a North American utility-scale renewable
energy development company headquartered in Edina, Minnesota and has developed multiple
operating wind farms and solar projects throughout the United States. Approximately 1,300 MW
of wind projects and 200 MW of solar projects developed by Geronimo are either operational or
expected to be constructed by the end of 2016. Geronimo has a multi-gigawatt development
pipeline of wind and solar projects in various stages of development throughout the United
States. Geronimo provides custom renewable energy development solutions for utilities,
independent power purchasers and corporations looking to harness renewable energy for
business growth. With deep roots in agriculture, Geronimo prides itself on developing wind
farms that are farmer-friendly, community-driven, and beneficial for rural communities.
1 Based on EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator and 1,757,000 kWh annual production PVSYST model
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2 Project Description
2.1 SUMMARY AND LOCATION
The Project will be located in Section 18, Township 32N, Range 19W, Washington County,
Minnesota. The Project area lies in the Agriculture Core District within New Scandia Township.
The planned project design will be a 3 MW solar facility consisting of up to 2, 1 MW solar
gardens each owned as described in Section 2.4 of this application. Final design will be dictated
by interconnection study results. The Project footprint will be approximately 22 acres and is
proposed to utilize typical photovoltaic panels, central inverters and a linear axis tracking s ystem
or a fixed-tilt racking system for the site.
Construction is scheduled to commence in the late summer/early fall of 2016 with completion
before December 2017.
2.2 PROJECT OWNERSHIP
Argo Navis Community Solar Gardens, LLC has an agreement with the landowner for the
Project site. Argo Navis Community Solar Gardens, LLC is the CUP applicant.
Additional related Special Purpose Vehicle Project LLCs that will be part of the Project are Argo
Navis CSG1, LLC, Argo Navis CSG2, LLC, and Argo Navis CSG3, LLC. These are required for
the Xcel Program and financing purposes. Enforcement will be through the parent LLC of Argo
Navis Community Solar Gardens, LLC.
2.3 PROJECT CONSULTANTS
Surveying/ Solar Array Design & Civil Engineering:
Westwood Professional Services
7699 Anagram Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Interconnection Design & Engineering:
Leidos Engineering, LLC
60 Plato Blvd., Ste 300, St. Paul, MN 55107
2.4 SOLAR PROJECT FACILITY
The Project’s facilities will include:
Solar modules, inverters and racking;
Fencing;
Access roads as required;
On-site underground electrical collection lines;
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Up to two weather stations (up to 20 feet tall);
The Project covers approximately 22 acres of one privately owned parcel. ANCSG selected the
specific development area based on county land use guidance, significant landowner interest,
interconnection suitability, optimal solar resource, and minimal environmental impact. A full
legal description of the property and proof of site control can be found in Appendix C.
ANCSG has provided a site plan showing existing conditions and one of proposed conditions for
the solar gardens in Appendix A. The site plans provide the parcel boundary, preliminary
footprint and layout of the Project including preliminary facility locations.
The Project’s final layout will optimize electrical generation and efficiency of the solar resource
while avoiding and minimizing environmental, cultural, and economic impacts. The Project’s
facilities will be sited so as to comply with the county’s setback requirements, where applicable,
as well as other voluntarily-imposed setbacks. To the extent applicable, the Project will also
comply with all other local, state, and federal regulatory standards.
The City of Scandia’s structure setback, height regulations, and areas that prohibit development
in the Agriculture Core District for solar development are provided in Table 1:
TABLE 1: SETBACK TABLE
County
Requirements
Proposed
Setbacks
DNR Designated
Shoreland District
Prohibited Not Located
in Shoreland
District
Areas Protected From
Development by Federal,
State, or County
Agencies
600’ See Variance
Application
Within Wetlands Prohibited See Section
2.6.2
Within Floodplain
District
Prohibited Not Located
in Floodplain
District
Minimum Building
Setback: Front Yard
40’ ~757’
Minimum Building
Setback: Side Yard
20’ No Building
to the Side
Minimum Building
Setback: Rear Yard
50’ No Building
to the Rear
Solar Farm Height 15’ 15’
Arterial Roadways 200’ from centerline or
150’ from ROW –
whichever is greater
150’
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ANCSG’s proposed components include PV modules mounted on a linear axis tracking system
or fixed-tilt racking system and a centralized inverter(s). The modules will have approximate
dimensions of 4 to 6.5 feet long by 2 to 3.5 feet wide, and 1 to 2 inches thick. The foundations of
the racking system will likely be a driven steel pier and will unlikely require concrete, although
some concrete foundations may be required. Geotechnical soil testing will determine final
installation process. Areas of bare ground at the facility will be re-vegetated with a low-growing,
pollinator friendly seed mix.
The modules will be connected electrically meeting at one of the central inverters. The inverters
will convert the DC power from the modules to AC power. Additionally, a transformer will step
up the voltage to meet the local interconnection voltage of Xcel’s distribution grid. From the
inverters, the cable will be buried underground to the Point of Interconnection (POI) which will
be owned by Xcel Energy. At the POI system will interconnect to Xcel’s existing distribution
infrastructure. ANCSG will secure all private easements for its facilities and will secure permits
and other authorizations from the state, county and township governments as needed. An aerial
map of ANCSG’s proposed site is located in Appendix B.
A fully executed interconnection agreement with Xcel Energy will be obtained and submitted to
the City of Scandia prior to construction. The Interconnection Agreement process is a component
of Xcel’s Solar*Rewards Community program and is regulated by the Minnesota Public Utilities
Commission. ANCSG has provided an interconnection agreement as Appendix I.
The Project will use a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which allows
remote control and monitoring of the status of The Project. The monitoring system provides
status views of electrical and mechanical data, operation and fault status, meteorological data,
and grid station data. For security the Project will be fenced and have site security cameras.
Access to the Project area is through lockable gates.
2.4.1 Project Components
Panel Type-
- Photovoltaic panels
Panel Size-
- 4 to 6.5 feet long by 2 to 3.5 feet wide, and 1 to 2 inches thick
Racking Type-
- Fixed-tilt/Tracking racking system
- Utilizes galvanized steel for foundations and frame
Panel Height-
- Fixed-tilt: up to 15 feet
- Tracking: up to 15 feet
Panel Material-
- Aluminum frame
- Silicon
- Weatherized plastic backing
Central Inverter Skid and electrical cabinets
- Enclosed central inverters and transformers
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- Overhead shade will be 10 to 12 feet tall and the equipment enclosure, if used,
will be up to approximately 45 feet long by 10 feet wide by 10 feet tall.
Metering and Switching Gear
- Electrical equipment required to connect to Xcel’s system
Access roads
- Gravel roads within the fenced area leading to the inverter skids for repair
Rated Power & Performance-
- 1000-1500 volt system that steps up to 12.47 kV local distribution
Safety-
- Tempered glass, security fence (6 foot chain link, 1 foot barbed wire), security
cameras, on-site cables buried underground.
ANCSG is currently evaluating a number of systems for installation that include the following:
Linear Axis Tracking System:
A linear axis tracking system tracks the solar resource throughout the day. The panels are
generally aligned in rows north and south and face east in the morning, perpendicular to the
ground during mid-day, and then west in the afternoon. The panels are rotated by a small motor
to slowly rotate the panels throughout the day.
Fixed-Tilt Racking System:
A fixed-tilt racking system does not rotate. It remains in a fixed position, facing a southerly
direction.
2.5 CONSTRUCTION
Construction of the solar gardens is scheduled to commence as early as late summer/early fall of
2016 with completion before December 2017.
Traffic during construction is estimated to be 25-35 trucks daily. Traffic will include pickup
trucks, semi-trailers for delivery of equipment, and other machinery. ANCSG does not expect to
use any overweight or oversized loads during the construction. During construction there will be
a small laydown yard with a job trailer somewhere on the parcel.
2.6 WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN
2.6.1 Erosion and Sediment Control Plan
Best Management Practices (BMPs) and industry standard practices will be implemented for
drainage and soil erosion control. In accordance with Chapter 2, Section 3.34 (4)(H) of the
Development Code, permits for construction, including a National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES), and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) will be
completed prior to construction.
2.6.2 Wetlands
Because the Project site will be located on a reclaimed mining operation, a wetland
delineation for the Project is not necessary as the current condition of the site indicates no
wetlands are present.
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2.6.3 Drainage
The existing natural drainage patterns of the site are split between the north and south. A
majority of the site surface drains to the southeast to ponding area in the north and an additional
ponding area in the south.
In this application, the preliminary site grading design will be to grade in order to provide
consistent slopes that are adequate for the proposed single axis tracker systems. The preliminary
grading design of the site has been done in a way that the natural drainage patterns of the site
will continue. Grading will be the minimum amount that is practical.
The site is currently used for mining activities. In the development of this community solar
garden the area will be re-graded and then stabilized to a grassy field under the solar panels.
During a rain event, it is industry practice that the panels are not considered to be an impervious
surface. With this site development the drainage patterns should remain consistent with the
existing natural conditions.
2.7 AESTHETICS
The solar array will occupy most of the Project site for the solar facilities. The electrical
transformers and inverters, and access roads complete the solar project. Most of the facility,
including the solar field, will be low-profile. Currently, the proposed generation tie line will be
built underground to the edge of the parcel. Images 1-5 below visually show the general racking
equipment and dimensions of both a fixed-tilt racking system and a linear axis tracking system.
Image 1- Fixed-Tilt System Racking
mage
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Image 2- Fixed-Tilt System Dimensions
Image 3- Tracking System Racking
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Image 4- Tracking System Dimensions
Image 5 – Standard Steel Pier Foundations
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2.7.1 Landscaping and Screening Plan
In accordance with the City of Scandia’s Zoning Regulation Chapter 2, Section 3.45 (2)(G)
and Section 3.12 ANCSG has developed a screening plan for the project consisting of a
vegetative buffer along the outside of the fenceline to mitigate viewshed impacts. The
landscape plan is attached as part of the application plan set. The site has been located to
best utilitize existing terrain for visual screening from the nearby homes and roads.
Image 5 - View from North Home, Looking at site
Image 5 provides a view from the northern most home adjacent to the project. The proposed
solar array would be on the opposite side of the berm and will be shorter than the berm making
views of it limited at most.
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Image 6 – View from the intersection of Scandia Trail and Hwy 95
Image 6 provides a view looking into the current mining operation. The berms and hills will
remain in place so that they continue to provide a visual screen.
Image 7 – View from the Southern Home Looking at the Site
April 12, 2016 Conditional Use Permit Application Page 12 of 29
Image 7 provides a view from the intersection looking at the property. This location will be
screend through the installation of trees, shrubs and other vegiation
2.8 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
ANCSG will be professionally maintained and operated. Primary tasks include scheduled
monthly and quarterly inspection(s) of electrical equipment, vegetation management as well as
snow removal on access drives.
A sample seed mix has been provided in Appendix E. Final seed mix will be submitted prior to
construction.
2.8.1 Vegetation Maintenance and Management
ANCSG will monitor and manage the vegetation for the first 3 years to ensure establishment
of the seed mix and eradicate noxious weeds. The landscaping used to mitigate view shed
impacts will be maintained and managed for the life of the Project.
Vegetation maintenance during operation of the Project will include mowing ground cover
that is planted under the arrays at each facility on a bi-annual basis, or potentially more
frequently if necessary. Vegetation will be managed such that it allows for safe and reliable
operation of the facility while ensuring an aesthetically pleasing ground cover.
Major infestation areas identified during the first growing season will be treated primarily by
mechanical methods. Should the facility require an herbicide treatment the facility or its
subcontractors will obtain any necessary permits and/or certifications prior to application.
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Herbicides will be used in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and all applicable
federal and state regulations. The contractor applying herbicide will keep proper
documentation of location and timing of herbicide use and be prepared to provide such
documentation to the county and Applicant upon request as required under federal law.
2.9 ACCESS
ANCSG has a lease option with James and Kathleen Zavoral to construct a solar farm on their
property as described in Appendix C.
2.10 VARIANCE
Chapter 2, Section 4 of the City of Scandia’s Zoning Regulation prohibits development “Within
six hundred (600) feet of areas designated or formally protected from development by Federal,
State or County agencies as wildlife habitat, wildlife management areas, or designated as
National Wild and Scenic land or corridor.” A variance application for this requirement
accompanies this CUP Application.
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3 Compliance with the City of Scandia’s Conditional Use and Solar
Ordinances
ANCSG has provided information in this application to make it complete under the requirements
of the City of Scandia’s Zoning Regulations in Chapter 1, Section 8 and Chapter 2, Section 4.34.
Table 2 summarizes this compliance.
3.1 TABLE 2: COMPLIANCE WITH CITY OF SCANDIA’S CUP AND
COMMUNITY SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM ORDINANCE
Application
Requirement
Description of Application
Requirement
ANCSG response in fulfilling
ordinance requirements
Conditional Use Permit Requirements
Chapter 1 Section
8.4(1)
The conditional use will be in
compliance with and shall not have a
negative effect upon the
Comprehensive Plan, including
public facilities and capital
improvement plans.
ANCSG is not in conflict with the
Comprehensive Plan. The Project
generally meets the goals of the
future land use outlined in the
Comprehensive Plan through
reclaiming the Project site with
native vegetation.
Chapter 1 Section
8.4(2)
The establishement, maintenance or
operation of the conditional use will
promote and enhance the general
public welfare and will not be
detrimental to or endanger the public
helath, safety, morals or comfort.
ANCSG will not adversely effect the
general public in anyway. ANCSG
will be professionally maintained
ensuring the Project is safely
operating.
Chapter 1 Section
8.4(3)
The conditional use will not be
injurious to the use and enjoyment of
other property in the immediate
vicinity for the purposes already
permitted, nor substantially diminish
and impair property values or scenic
views.
ANCSG will not be injurious to the
neighboring properties as permitted.
ANCSG is low profile, does not
create odors and is virtually
noiseless. A screening plan is
outlined in Section 2.7.3.
Chapter 1 Section
8.4(4)
The establishement of the
conditional use will not impede the
normal and orderly development and
improvement of surrounding
property for uses permitted in the
district.
ANCSG will not impede future
development surrounding the
Project.
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Chapter 1 Section
8.4(5)
Adequate public facilities and
services are available or can be
reasonably provided to accommodate
the use which is proposed.
ANCSG does not anticipate using
public services and infrastructure,
with the exception of police and fire,
if needed. ANCSG does not require
sewer or water.
Chapter 1 Section
8.4(6)
The conditional use shall conform to
the applicable regulations of the
district in which it is located and all
other applicable standards of this
Chapter.
ANCSG is consistent with the uses
in Agriculture Core Districts per
Chapter 1 of the City of Scandia
Development Code.
Chapter 1 Section
8.4(7)
The conditional use complies with
the general and specific performance
standards as specified by this Section
and this Chapter.
ANCSG is consistent with the
performance standards outlined in
Chapter 1 Section 8.5.
Solar Farm Performance Standards
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(A)
Solar Farms generating 50 MW or
more shall fall under the jurisdiction
of the Minnesota Public Utilities
Commission. Limitations on
generating capacity of community
solar garden facilities is regulated by
MN Statutes 216B.164 and related
regulations.
ANCSG is in compliance with
applicable regulations.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(B)
Solar farms and community solar
garden shall be located on a parcel
of at least 5 acres.
ANCSG is located on approximately
22 acres of land.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(C)
Solar farms and community solar
gardens shall be in compliance with
any applicable local, state, and
federal regulatory standards,
including the MN Uniform Building
Code, the National Electric Code,
the State Plumbing Code, and the
MN Energy Code.
All electrical codes and standards
will be met by the facility
components. Final equipment
specifications shall be submitted to
the County prior to the start of
construction. All structures within
the Project boundaries shall comply
with all State building codes.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(D)
All solar farms and community solar
gardens shall comply with the
principal structure setback standards
and lot coverage standard for the
applicable zoning district in which
they are located.
See Table 1 for structure setbacks.
Chapter 2 Section Solar farms and community solar See Table 1 for structure setbacks.
April 12, 2016 Conditional Use Permit Application Page 16 of 29
4.34 (4)(E) gardens shall be setback a minimum
of 200 feet from the centerline or
150 feet from the right-of-way of
minor arterial roadways, whichever
is greater.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(F)
Ground-mounted solar energy
systems shall not exceed 15 feet in
height.
ANCSG’s proposed panels will not
reach heights exceeding 15 ft.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(G)
Solar farms and community solar
gardens shall be screened from view
from the public right-of-way to the
extent possible by setbacks,
berming, existing vegetation,
landscaping, or a combination
thereof.
See Section 2.7.1 and Appendix H of
this Application.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(H)
Solar farms and community solar
gardens are subject to stormwater
management and erosion and
sediment control best practices and
NPDES permit requirements, and
shall obtain required permits from
the MPCA, local Watershed District,
City and others.
See Section 2.6.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(I)
The manufacturer’s engineer or
another qualified engineer shall
certify that the foundation and
design of the solar panels is within
accepted professional standards,
given local soil and climate
conditions.
The project will complete a
geotechnical evaluation and provide
this ceritification when obtaining
building permits.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(J)
Power and communication lines that
are not defined in this ordinance as
Essential Services and running
between banks of solar panels and to
electric substations or
interconnections with buildings that
are on or adjacent parcels shall be
buried underground.
All on-site power lines will be
buried underground until the point of
interconnection with Xcel Energy
distribution infrastructure. The
facility will be remotely monitored
through telemetry and as required by
Xcel Energy.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(K)
All solar farms and community solar
gardens shall be designed and
located in order to prevent reflective
glare toward any inhabited buildings
on adjacent properites, as well as
adjacent right-of-ways. Solar farms
ANCSG will not utilize a reflector
system and a glare study is not
required.
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utilizing a reflector system shall
conduct a glare study to identify the
impacts of the system on occupied
buildings and transportation rights-
of-way within a half mile of the
project boundary. The study shall
also address aviation impacts.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(L)
The surface area of ground-mounted
systems in combination with
driveways, structures and other
impervious surfaces on the parcel
shall not exceed the maximum lot
coverage standard of the applicable
zoning district.
The Project will not exceed the
maximum lot coverage of 25%.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(M)
A clearly visible waring sign
concerning voltage must be placed
at the base of all pad-mounted
transformers and substations. All
mechanical equipment, including
any structure for batteries or storage
cells, shall be completely enclosed
by a minimum 8 foot fence with a
self locking gate, and provided with
screening in accordance with the
landscaping provisions of the
Development Code.
Signage will comply with Chapter 2
Section 3.13 of the City of Scandia
Development Code. The fence will
comply with the landscaping
provision.
Chapter 2 Section
4.34 (4)(N)
If the facility remains nonfunctional
or inoperative for a continuous
period of 1 year, it shall be deemed
abandoned and a public nuisance.
The owner shall remove the system
at their expense after obtaining a
demolition permit.
See Appendix G.
4 Conclusion
ANCSG is requesting a two year CUP. Due to the lengthy development process and need to have
assurance of permitting for the marketability of a solar site, it is essential for the Project to
receive a two year CUP.
The Project as designed and planned complies with the City of Scandia’s CUP process and the
Zoning Ordinance. ANCSG is working in close coordination with the landowner of the Project
April 12, 2016 Conditional Use Permit Application Page 18 of 29
site, and will continue to engage the surrounding neighbors and the community as the Project
develops. ANCSG Community Solar Gardens, LLC respectfully requests the approval of the
Project’s CUP.
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Appendix A
Site Plan
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Appendix B
Project and Interconnection Vicinity Map
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Appendix C
Memorandum of Lease Agreement and Legal Description
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Appendix D
Xcel Energy Solar*Rewards Community Program
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Appendix E
Sample Seed Mix
Prairie Seed Mix (Mesic prairie UPs23) Seeding Rate: 40
seeds per Sq ft/ac Height
Bloom
Time
Forbs
Allium canadense (wild garlic) 1-2' Mid
Amorpha canescens (lead plant) 1-3' Mid
Anemone canadensis (Canada Anemone) 1-2' Early-Mid
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly-weed) 1-2' Mid-late
Coreopsis palmata (Prairie coreopsis) 1-3' Mid
Dalea candida (White Prairie Clover) 1-3' Mid
Dalea purpurea (Purple Prairie Clover) 1-3' Mid
Echinacaea angustifolia (Narow leaved Purple Coneflower) 1-2' Mid-Late
Euthamia graminifolia (Grass-leaved goldenrod) 2-4' Mid-Late
Galium boreale (northern bedstraw) 1-3' Mid
Liatris aspera (rough blazingstar) 1-4' Mid-Late
Lobelia spicata (pale-spike lobelia) 1-2' Mid
Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) 2-4' Mid
Phlox pilosa (Prairie phlox) 6-24" Early-Mid
Potentilla arguta (Prairie cinquefoil) 1-3' Mid
Pycnanthemum virginianum (Mountain Mint) 1-3' Mid-Late
Ratibida columnifera (Upright prairie coneflower) 1-3' Mid
Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan) 1-3' Mid
Sisyrinchium campestre (Prairie blue-eyed grass) 4-16" Early-Mid
Solidago rigida (Stiff Goldenrod) 1-5' Late
Solidago speciosa (showy goldenrod) 1-5' Late
Symphyotrichum ericoides (Heath Aster) 1-3' Late
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England Aster) 3-7' Late
Zizia aptera (Heart-leaved Alexanders) 1-3' Early
Grasses
Avena sativa (Oats)
Carex bicknelli (Copper shouldered oval sedge) 1-3' Mid
Bouteloua curtipendula (Side oats grama) 1-2' Late
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem PLS) 1-3' Mid-Late
Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed PLS) 2-3' Late
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Now Mow Turf; Seeding Rate: 42 seeds per Sq. ft./ac Height
Bloom
Time
Grasses
Avena sativa (Oats)
Bouteloua curtipendula (Side oats grama) PLS 1-2' Late
Bouteloua gracilis (Blue grama) PLS 1' Mid
Buchloe dactyloides (Buffalo grass--BOWIE cultivar) PLS 5" Mid
Carex bicknelli (Copper shouldered oval sedge) PLS 1-3' Mid
Koeleria macrantha (Junegrass) PLS 10-20" Mid
Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed PLS) 2-3' Late
Forbs
Allium canadense (Wild garlic) 1-2' Mid
Allium stellatum (Prairie onion) 8-18" Mid
Anemone canadensis (Canada Anemone) 1-2' Early-Mid
Anemone patens (Pasqueflower) 3-18" Early
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly-weed) 1-2' Mid-late
Echinacaea angustifolia (Narow leaved Purple Coneflower) 1-2' Mid-late
Sisyrinchium campestre (Prairie blue-eyed grass) 4-16" Early-Mid
Solidago nemoralis (Gray goldenrod) 1-2' Late
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Appendix F
Typical Racking Specs of Various Equipment Manufacturers
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Appendix G
Decommissioning Plan
Timeline
The decommissioning will occur at the end of the photovoltaic system’s useful life or when the
system has not been in use for twelve (12) consecutive months. Decommissioning is estimated to
take two to three weeks to complete and the decommissioning crew will ensure that all
equipment is recycled or disposed of properly.
Financial Resource Plan
Based on current recycling costs and salvage values, the cost of decommissioning the project
will be $50,000 or $25,000 per MW. ANCSG will establish an escrow or post a letter of credit
prior to construction.
Shutdown/Disconnection
Shut down system at all disconnect points (disconnect switch within fence and disconnect at
switch gear). NOTE: Per contract, utility has the ability to disconnect solar array from the
utility’s power grid for emergency purposes.
Removal and Disposal of Site Components
The removal and disposal details of the site components are found below. All removal and
disposal of equipment shall meet the requirements of the City of Scandia’s Solid Waste
Ordinance.
Modules: Modules inspected for physical damage, tested for functionality, and removed
from racking. Functioning modules packed and stored for reuse (functioning modules
may produce power for another 25 years or more). Non-functioning modules packed and
palletized and sent to the manufacturer or a third party for recycling.
Racking: Racking uninstalled, sorted, and sent to metal recycling facility.
Poles: Steel poles removed and sent to a recycling facility. Holes backfilled.
Wire: All wire sent to facility for proper disposal and recycling.
Conduit: Above-ground conduit disassembled onsite and sent to recycling facility.
Junction boxes, combiner boxes, external disconnect boxes, etc.: Sent to electronics
recycler.
Inverter: Sent to manufacturer and/or electronics recycler. Functioning parts can be
reused.
Concrete pad(s): Sent to concrete recycler.
Fence: Sent to metal recycling facility.
Computers, monitors, hard drives, and other components: Sent to electronics
recycler. Functioning parts can be reused.
Restoration/Reclamation of Site
April 12, 2016 Conditional Use Permit Application Page 27 of 29
After all equipment is removed the site will be restored to its pre-installation status. Holes
created by poles, concrete pads, and other equipment will be filled in with soil to existing
conditions and seeded. This will include the re-vegetation of the site.
April 12, 2016 Conditional Use Permit Application Page 28 of 29
Appendix H
Landscape and Screening Plan
April 12, 2016 Conditional Use Permit Application Page 29 of 29
Appendix I
Interconnection Agreement