| Announcements and Notices |
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| Meetings of the Siting Council |
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Next meeting:
February 3, 2012
9:30 a.m.
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
5000 Discovery Drive
The Dalles, Oregon
Meeting Minutes
Meeting Materials
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| Rulemaking Workshop |
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The Oregon Department of Energy hosted a workshop on January 13, 2012, to hear public comment on proposed minor changes to the Energy Facility Siting Council rules.
In response to the workshop and comments received to date, the Department has prepared draft "redline" versions of the Council rules showing the proposed amendments under consideration. The proposed rule amendments would affect Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 345, Divisions 1, 11, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 and 27.
Formal rulemaking proceedings have not begun. If authorized by the Council, formal rulemaking proceedings will be announced at a later date.
The draft redline versions of the Council rules are available from the following links:
Division 1
[Note: The proposed amendments to Division 1 contain references to ORS 469.503 as amended by HB 3538. The changes to the statute may not appear in the current version of ORS 469 available online.]
Division 11
Division 15
Division 20
Division 21
Division 22
Division 23
Division 24
Division 26
Division 27
Comments on the proposed amendments may be submitted to John White by e-mail (click this link) or by mail to: Oregon Department of Energy, 625 Marion Street NE, Salem Oregon 97301-3737.
A Rule Review Matrix was presented to the Council in October 2011 and an addendum was prepared in December 2011. The matrix and the addendum describe proposed rule amendments included in the redline drafts listed above and other amendments that the Council may address in a future rulemaking process.
Rule Review Matrix, October 2011 [156 kb pdf]
Rule Review Matrix Addenda, December 2011 [22 kb pdf]
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| Golden Hills Wind - Request for Amendment |
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Golden Hills Wind Farm LLC has submitted a “Request for Amendment No. 1 to Golden Hills Wind Project Site Certificate” for a construction deadline extension.
Information on the Golden Hills Wind Project and this Request for Amendment can be found at http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/GHW.shtml.
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| Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line - Notice of Intent |
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On July 15, 2010, the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) received from the Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power), a Notice of Intent (NOI) to apply for an energy facility site certificate for a new transmission line identified as the Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project. The proposed transmission line consists of an approximately 300-mile-long, single-circuit 500-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line that will connect the proposed Grassland Substation to be located in northeast Oregon (near Boardman, Oregon in Morrow County) to the Hemingway Substation located in southwest Idaho (near Melba, Idaho in Owyhee County).
Joint State and Federal Review
The proposed transmission line will cross federal, tribal, state, and private lands and requires a site certificate from the Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC). In addition to the EFSC site certificate, the project requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NEPA process is required for any proposed action on federally-managed lands. Approximately 66 percent of the proposed 300-mile transmission line corridor is on private land, 32 percent is federally-managed public lands and 2 percent on state or municipal land.
The NEPA process is being administered by the BLM, which has been designated as the lead federal agency for the B2H project. ODOE and BLM will coordinate the state and federal review processes as much as possible.
A Note about an EFSC Notice of Intent
The EFSC NOI is not an application; it merely states the applicant’s intention to submit an application in the near future. The NOI is much less detailed than an Application for Site Certificate and the information is preliminary. The NOI does not result in approval or denial of any permits. It enables state agencies, tribes, affected local governments, and the public to identify their applicable requirements and concerns, so the applicant can address them in the Application that will follow. Idaho Power’s NOI indicates it intends to submit its Application for Site Certificate some time during the first few months of 2011.
ODOE uses the comments from the public and other state and local agencies to prepare a document called the “project order,” which lists the rules and regulations that will apply to the proposed facility. The applicant uses the project order as a guide to prepare its Application for Site Certificate. ODOE will not issue a new project order for the B2H project until after the close of the public comment period on the Notice of Intent.
To see a copy of the NOI
ODOE, Idaho Power and the federal reviewing agencies have established a joint project website at www.boardmantohemingway.com, where you will find updated information concerning public meetings and links to many sources of information about the proposed transmission line, including the NOI and how to participate in the state and federal review processes. Printed copies of the NOI are available for public review at ODOE, BLM, and U.S. Forest Service offices, in addition to County planning offices and public libraries along the length of the route. Please see the complete list of viewing locations on page 4 of the Joint Notification Letter
A Public Comment Period on the proposed B2H Transmission Line is now open
The state and federal agencies would like your input on Idaho Power’s proposed Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line. ODOE is soliciting public and agency comments on the EFSC NOI, and the federal agencies are collecting comments as part of the scoping period for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. The state and federal agencies are conducting a joint scoping period at this stage of the project, and will share all public comments with each other and Idaho Power. Comments submitted through the B2H Project Website or directly to an agency will all be shared, so there is no need to submit comments to each agency.
What if you already commented on the proposed project?
Idaho Power originally submitted a Notice of Intent in 2008 to apply for a site certificate, and the state and federal agencies conducted a similar joint review process in late 2009. The result of that round of public comments was that ODOE produced a Project Order in early 2009 and the federal agencies produced a Scoping Report. However, Idaho Power never submitted an application for site certificate to EFSC for review. Because an EFSC NOI expires two years from when it was submitted, Idaho Power decided to withdraw the previous EFSC Notice of Intent and submit a new NOI, instead of trying to revise the previous NOI.
There have been many changes to the proposed transmission line route since the 2008 submittal, but the federal NEPA process allows for a simple re-opening of the scoping comment period to collect additional comments. However, the state siting rules require a completely new comment period, so comments made on the previous NOI will not carry forward into the current state review process for the NOI filed in July, 2010. However, if you previously submitted comments on the B2H project, and you believe your comment is still applicable to the revised Notice of Intent, please let us know through the website (or the other ways listed below) that you would like ODOE to consider your previous comment and we will make sure that we do so.
How to Comment on the proposed Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line
Scoping comments are most useful to the agencies if they are specific as to the issue, identify the affected location (if applicable), and/or address specific state standards or federal issue areas. More information on how to most effectively participate in the process can be found on the shared B2H Project Website. Comments on the EFSC-NOI must be submitted by September 27, 2010 (please note the new closing date—the first project mailing had an earlier end date). The federal scoping comment period will close 60 days after the BLM-NOI (the BLM NOI is different than the EFSC NOI) is published in the Federal Register.
Send your comments via one of the following options:
Public Meetings: See the meeting schedule below.
Website: www.boardmantohemingway.com/comment
E-mail: comment@boardmantohemingway.com
U.S. Mail: Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Line Project
PO Box 655
Vale, OR 97918
Fax: 888-251-3129 (toll free)
Upcoming Public Information/Scoping Meetings
Date
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Time
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Location
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08/02/10
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3:30 - 8 p.m.
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Blue Mountain Conference Center
404 Twelfth St.
La Grande, OR
map location
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08/03/10
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3:30 - 8 p.m.
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Best Western Sunridge Inn and Conference Center
1 Sunridge Ln,
Baker City, OR
map location
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08/04/10
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3:30 - 8 p.m.
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Pendleton Convention Center
1601 Westgate
Pendleton, OR
map location
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08/05/10
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3:30 - 8 p.m.
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Mt. Vernon Community Hall
640 Ingle St.
Mt. Vernon, OR
map location
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08/09/10
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3:30 - 8 p.m.
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American Legion Hall
126 N. Bruneau Hwy.
Marsing, ID
map location
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08/10/10
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3:30 - 8 p.m.
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Four Rivers Cultural Center
676 S.W. 5th Ave.
Ontario, OR
map location
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08/11/10
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3:30 - 8 p.m.
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Port of Morrow Convention Center
2 Marine Dr.
Boardman, OR
map location
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08/12/10
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3:30 - 8 p.m.
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Harney County Community Services Center
17 S. Alder Ave
Burns, OR
map location
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ODOE Project Officer
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Federal Project Manager
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Sue Oliver
Oregon Department of Energy
395 E. Highland Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
Phone: 541-567-3840, ext. 225
Toll free (Oregon only): 1-800-221-8035
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John Styduhar
Bureau of Land Management
Phone: 503-808-6454
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| Rock Creek Wind Power Facility - Notice of Intent |
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On August 23, 2010, Rock Creek Wind Power LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of RES America Developments, Inc.) submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to apply for a site certificate for the proposed Rock Creek Wind Power Facility. The Department has issued a Project Order for the facility.
Public Notice on the NOI [91 kb pdf]
Notice of Intent [4.4 MB pdf]
Figure G1 (vicinity map) [345 kb pdf]
Figure G2 (preliminary facility layout) [857 kb pdf]
Project Order [188 kb pdf]
The NOI is available from the link listed above. Full copies of the NOI will be available for public inspection at the Oregon Department of Energy, 625 Marion St. NE in Salem; at the Gilliam County Library, 310 South Main in Condon; at the Arlington Public Library, 500 West First Street in Arlington; at the Boardman Library, 200 S. Main in Boardman; and at the Department’s Hermiston Field Office, 395 E. Highland Avenue in Hermiston (please call for an appointment, 541-567-3840).
The Proposed Facility
The proposed Rock Creek Wind Power Facility (RCWPF) would have a peak generating capacity of up to 550 megawatts. The applicant has not selected a turbine type, but the applicant is considering turbines ranging from 1.8-MW to 3.0-MW each. The RCWPF would consist of 183 to 305 wind turbines. Other facility components include two substations, an operations and maintenance facility, up to 3 meteorological towers, access roads, and aboveground and underground transmission lines. The proposed facility site is entirely on private lands located in Gilliam County approximately 3.5 miles north of Condon. The turbine micrositing area would lie approximately 17 miles south of Arlington. The NOI contains a more detailed description of the proposed facility.
The applicant intends to connect the RCWPF to the regional transmission system either through a proposed Bonneville Power Administration substation (the Diamond Butte Substation) adjacent to the existing 500-kV Slatt-Buckley transmission line or through a proposed Portland General Electric (PGE) substation (the Cedar Springs substation) adjacent to the proposed 500-kV Cascade Crossing transmission line. PGE has submitted a Notice of Intent to apply for a site certificate for the proposed Cascade Crossing transmission line. An aboveground 230-kV transmission line would connect the RCWPF substations to the selected interconnection site.
The Department held an informational meeting on the NOI on October 6, 2010, in Condon. At the meeting, the Department explained the site certificate review process and opportunities for public participation and answered questions about the process. The applicant described the proposed facility and answered questions about the facility.
Comments and Questions
If you have comments or questions about the proposed facility or the Council's permitting process, contact John White by e-mail (click this link) or by mail to: Oregon Department of Energy, 625 Marion Street NE, Salem Oregon 97301-3737, Telephone: 503-378-3194 or (800) 221-8035, extension 295 (toll-free in Oregon); Fax: (503) 373-7806.
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| Saddle Butte Wind Park - Notice of Intent |
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On August 7, 2009, Saddle Butte Wind LLC submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to apply for a site certificate for the proposed Saddle Butte Wind Park. The applicant plans to submit a preliminary application in early 2012.
At a meeting on June 24, 2011, the Siting Council approved an extension of the NOI expiration for one year. The NOI will expire on August 7, 2012.
Order Granting an Extension of the Notice of Intent [63 kb pdf]
Notice of Intent
Notice of Intent, August 2009
(the main content is available for download from the following links)
Exhibits A - D [97 kb pdf]
Exhibits I - O [193 kb pdf]
Exhibit G, page G-2, site map [450 kb pdf]
Exhibit G, page G-4, study areas [522 kb pdf]
Exhibit G, page G-7, land capability map [325 kb pdf]
The main content of the NOI is available from the links listed above. Full copies of the NOI are available for public inspection at the Oregon Department of Energy, 625 Marion St. NE, Salem, Oregon, at the Gilliam County Library, 310 S. Main in Condon, at the Arlington Public Library, 500 W. First Street in Arlington and at the Boardman Library, 200 S. Main in Boardman.
The Proposed Facility
The proposed Saddle Butte Wind Park would be a wind energy facility consisting of up to 171 wind turbines and related facility components (including a substation, a field workshop, meteorological towers, access roads, and aboveground and underground transmission lines). The facility would have a peak generating capacity of up to 565 megawatts. The proposed facility site is entirely on private lands located in Morrow County and Gilliam County approximately 20 miles south of the Columbia River between Eightmile Canyon and State Highway 74. The NOI contains a more detailed description of the proposed facility.
The applicant intends to connect the facility to the regional transmission system through a Bonneville Power Administration substation adjacent to the Slatt Switching Station. The applicant has proposed a single transmission corridor running approximately 19 miles to the BPA Slatt interconnection facility. In the NOI, the applicant explains that alternate corridors are not proposed because the described corridor is the shortest route and reduces impacts by sharing transmission structures previously approved for the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm. In the site certificate application, the applicant may propose adjustments to the corridor.
Project Order
The Department has issued an amended project order for the proposed Saddle Butte Wind Park. The project order contains instructions to the applicant regarding the information to include in the site certificate application. The project order describes applicable statutes, administrative rules, related permits and approvals and local government ordinances as well as applicable requirements from OAR Chapter 345, Division 21. The Project Order summarizes public and reviewing agency comments on the applicant's Notice of Intent.
First Amended Project Order, July 2011 [1.5 MB pdf]
Comments and Questions
If you have comments or questions about the proposed facility or the Council's permitting process, contact John White by e-mail (click this link) or by mail to: Oregon Department of Energy, 625 Marion Street NE, Salem Oregon 97301-3737, Telephone: 503-378-3194 or (800) 221-8035, extension 295 (toll-free in Oregon); Fax: (503) 373-7806.
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| Antelope Ridge Wind Farm - Application |
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The Oregon Department of Energy (the Department) has received an Application for Site Certificate from Antelope Ridge Wind Power Project LLC (applicant), a wholly owned subsidiary of Horizon Wind Energy LLC (Horizon). The applicant is proposing to construct and operate a wind-powered electric generating facility near Union, Oregon called the Antelope Ridge Wind Farm. According to Oregon law, Horizon must obtain approval (a Site Certificate) from the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (the Council) before building and operating the facility. The Department deemed the application complete and filed on December 30, 2010.
We invite you to submit comments or attend the information meeting if you have any questions or concerns. The information meeting is not a formal public hearing, although the Department will accept written and oral comments at the meeting.
Comment Period:
January 10, 2011 through February 14, 2011 (5:00 p.m.)
Information Meeting:
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January 25, 2011 |
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6:00 - 8:30 p.m. |
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Union Elementary School
Miller Gym
540 S. Main
Union, Oregon 97883
http://www.union.k12.or.us/michael_wood/contact_us
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Where is the proposed facility located?
The proposed Antelope Ridge Wind Farm would be located about ten miles southeast of La Grande on private and state land in Union County in eastern Oregon, in the area of Craig Mountain between Highway 237 and Interstate 84. A map showing the location can be found on the Department’s website at http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/review.shtml
Description of the Antelope Ridge Wind Farm
Antelope Ridge would include up to 164 wind turbines and have a nominal generating capacity of about 300 megawatts (MW). The applicant proposes to use turbines in the range of 1.5 MW to 3.0 MW of generating capacity. Overall turbine tip heights would range from 328 to 475 feet tall. In addition to the wind turbines, the facility would include access roads, foundations, underground and overhead electrical collection systems, meteorological towers, and an operations and maintenance building. The facility would also include a communication system, power collection system, and a substation.
A transmission line will interconnect the facility with the electrical grid. The line would be an overhead 230 kV (kilovolt) line, on poles ranging from 80-120 feet tall. The applicant has identified three possible connections to the regional electrical grid: an existing Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) substation in La Grande, the Ladd Canyon substation operated by Idaho Power Company (IPCO) (adjacent to the BPA substation), and/or a connection through IPCO’s North Powder substation. The applicant has identified two potential transmission corridors, the Northern Alignment (about 13 miles long) and the Southern Alignment (about 8 miles).
Application Review Process
The Council's Site Certificate process is a consolidated permitting process that includes the review of applicable regulations of other state agencies. The Department serves as staff to the Council and conducts the application process for site certificates.
The proposed facility must meet Council standards and must comply with statewide land use planning goals. The Council will review the application for compliance with Union County land use ordinances. If the facility does not comply with local ordinances or with the applicable statewide planning goals, the Council may allow an exception. The proposed Antelope Ridge facility is located in an area zoned for agricultural and forest use. The facility must not cause significant interference with accepted farm practices on surrounding farmland.
What happens next?
The Department will review the application and comments from the public, state agencies, tribes, local governments and others interested in the project. After the close of the comment period, the Department begins preparation of its recommendations to the Council in the form of a "Draft Proposed Order". The Draft Proposed Order includes the Department's proposed findings and recommendations to the Council. If the Department recommends that the Council issue a site certificate, the Draft Proposed Order will include recommended site certificate conditions.
The final opportunity for public comment will be announced when the Department issues the Draft Proposed Order.
The Department will open a public comment period and conduct a public hearing on the Draft Proposed Order. You must provide oral or written comment on the Draft Proposed Order if you want to preserve your right to participate in the contested case proceeding.
The Department's website describes the Council's site certificate review and approval process in detail. The website also describes the standards the applicant must meet to obtain a Site Certificate. Please see the Department's website at www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/process.shtml.
How do I get more information and review related documents?
You can review and download documents about the Antelope Ridge Wind Farm, including selected parts of the application, on the Department's website at http://oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/review.shtml or at the Department's Salem or Hermiston offices listed on the first page (please call ahead for an appointment). The applicant has posted the entire application at http://www.horizonwindfarms.com/western-region/under-dev/antelope-ridge.htm.
The Department has also sent this notice and a copy of the application to the locations listed below. Please call the library or check the websites for operating hours:
Union Carnegie Public Library
185 N. Main Street
Union, Oregon 97883
541-562-5811
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F. Maxine and Thomas W. Cook Memorial Library
2006 Fourth Street
La Grande, OR 97850
541-962-1339
Web site
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Department of Energy Project Contact
The Department's Project Officer listed below can assist you with information about the Site Certificate process and the proposed facility. The Project Officer can also accept your written comments about the proposed facility.
Sue Oliver, Energy Facility Siting Officer
395 E. Highland Ave., Hermiston, OR 97838
Phone: 541-567-3840 (Ext. 225)
Fax: 541-567-6861
Toll-free in Oregon: 1-800-221-8035
E-mail: Sue.Oliver@odoe.state.or.us
How do I submit my comments?
You can submit your comments by writing, faxing, or e-mailing the Department’s Project Officer listed above. Comments on the application can be submitted any time from January 10, 2011 through February 14, 2011, including at the public meeting to be held on January 25 at 6:00 p.m. (see above).
Accessibility information
The Department is committed to accommodating people with disabilities. Please notify us of any special physical or language accommodations or if you need information in an alternate format. To make these arrangements, contact Meiko Kristiansen in the Department's Salem office at (503) 378-3895, toll-free in Oregon at (800) 221-8035, fax to (503) 373-7806, TTY 800-735-2900, or e-mail to Meiko.Kristiansen@odoe.state.or.us.
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| Baseline Wind Energy Facility - Application |
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On December 22, 2011, Baseline Wind LLC submitted a preliminary application for a site certificate for the proposed Baseline Wind Energy Facility. The Department is reviewing the preliminary application.
Full copies of the preliminary application will be available for public inspection at the Oregon Department of Energy, 625 Marion St. NE in Salem; at the Gilliam County Library, 310 South Main in Condon; at the Arlington Public Library, 500 West First Street in Arlington; at the Boardman Library, 200 S. Main in Boardman; and at the Department’s Hermiston Field Office, 395 E. Highland Avenue in Hermiston (please call for an appointment, 541-567-3840).
The Proposed Facility
The proposed Baseline Wind Energy Facility (BWEF) would have a peak generating capacity of up to 500 megawatts (MW) and an average generating capacity of up to approximately 167 MW. The applicant requests flexibility in the site certificate so that the certificate holder may select the turbine type, generating capacity per turbine and final facility layout after a site certificate has been issued but prior to construction. Depending on the turbine type, the facility would contain approximately 166 to 219 wind turbines.
Other facility components include up to three collector substations, an operations and maintenance building, up to seven permanent meteorological towers, and approximately 57 miles of new access roads. Turbines would be connected to the collector substation by aboveground and underground 34.5-kV collector lines. An aboveground 230-kV transmission line (generator lead line), approximately 22.5 miles in length, would connect the BWEF to regional transmission facilities. The applicant requests flexibility in the site certificate to connect the BWEF to either of two new substations: the proposed Bonneville Power Administration Diamond Butte Substation or the proposed Portland General Electric Cedar Spring Substation.
The proposed facility site is entirely on private lands located in Gilliam County’s Exclusive Farm Use Zone, approximately 7 miles south of Arlington. The area within the proposed site boundary encompasses approximately 36,351 acres, although not more than 234 acres would be permanently occupied by facility components. As shown in the preliminary application, the BWEF site boundary overlaps portions of the already-permitted site of the Montague Wind Power Facility (MWPF). The applicant and the MWPF certificate holder are discussing possible site boundary adjustments between the two projects to reduce the roads, collector lines, transmission lines and other infrastructure for each facility.
The preliminary application contains a more detailed description of the proposed BWEF and its potential impacts.
Comments and Questions
If you have comments or questions about the proposed facility or the Council's permitting process, contact John White by e-mail (click this link) or by mail to: Oregon Department of Energy, 625 Marion Street NE, Salem Oregon 97301-3737, Telephone: 503-378-3194 or (800) 221-8035, extension 295 (toll-free in Oregon); Fax: (503) 373-7806.
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| Carty Generating Station - Application |
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The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) received a Notice of Intent (NOI) from Portland General Electric Company (PGE) on August 26, 2009 to apply for an Energy Facility Site Certificate for a natural gas-fired generating facility to be located in Morrow County adjacent to the Boardman coal-fired plant. The proposed facility is called the Carty Generating Station. Click here to sign up for automatic e-mail notifications about the proposed Carty Generating Station.
The NOI is not an application; it merely states the applicant's intention to submit an application in the near future. The NOI is much less detailed than an Application for Site Certificate and the information is preliminary. The NOI does not result in approval or denial of any permits. It enables state agencies, tribes, affected local governments, and the public to identify their applicable requirements and concerns, so the applicant can address them in the Application that will follow. The Department uses the comments from the public and other state and local agencies to prepare a document called the "project order", which lists the rules and regulations that will apply to the proposed facility. The applicant uses the project order as a guide to prepare its preliminary Application for Site Certificate. The Department issued the Project Order for the Carty Generating Station on November 3, 2009.
PGE submitted a preliminary application for site certificate on January 5, 2010. The preliminary application was reviewed for completeness by local, state, federal, and tribal agencies. The Application for Site Certificate (ASC) was deemed complete by the Department of Energy on May 10, 2011. On May 24, 2011 the Department opened a public comment period on the ASC. A public information meeting is scheduled on June 14, 2011 in Boardman, Oregon, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Description of the Proposed Facility (Exhibit B of the ASC )
The proposed Carty Generating Station is a combined-cycle generating plant fueled by natural gas that would produce up to 900 megawatts (MW) of electrical power. The applicant proposes to construct the Carty Generating Station in two stages. Each stage would involve construction of a combination of high efficiency combustion turbine generators, heat recovery steam generators, and steam turbine generators, collectively called a "block".
In addition to the two generating blocks, the proposed facility will include auxiliary boilers, a new switchyard with generator transformers, up to four evaporation ponds, and administrative and water treatment buildings. The Carty Generating Station will also include a transmission line approximately 18 miles long. PGE is considering two options for interconnection with the electrical power grid. The preferred option is to utilize the existing 500-kilovolt (kV) Boardman to Slatt transmission line. The second option is to construct a new transmission line which would be located primarily within the right-of-way for the existing line.
The facility will consume about 150 million cubic feet of natural gas per day upon completion. Natural gas will be supplied to the facility through a lateral pipeline that will be connected to an existing pipeline operated by the Gas Transmission Northwest Corporation (GTN). The lateral pipeline is not included within the scope of the NOI because it will be permitted, owned, and operated by GTN and is outside the jurisdiction of the Council. Natural gas pipelines are permitted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Location of the Proposed Facility (Exhibit C of the ASC)
Carty Generating Station will be located about 13 miles southwest of Boardman, Oregon, adjacent to Boardman coal-fired generating plant (also operated by PGE) in Morrow County. The site is accessed from the Tower Road interchange on Interstate 84 (exit 159). The site boundary will encompass approximately 2,400 acres, including a transmission line that extends about 18 miles west into Gilliam County to the Slatt Substation (operated by the Bonneville Power Administration). The actual generating facility will be located within a fenced area about 90 acres in size. Click here for a map of the Carty Generating Station.
ASC Public Information Meeting and Public Comment Period
The public comment period for the Carty Generating Station Application for Site Certificate will be open from May 24 through June 24, 2011(5:00 p.m.).. A public information meeting will be held in Boardman, Oregon on June 14, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.:
Port of Morrow
Riverfront Center
Well Springs Conference Room
2 Marine Drive
Boardman, Oregon 97818
http://www.portofmorrow.com/contact.htm
Representatives from the Department and PGE will be on hand to explain the project and answer your questions. The Department uses comments from the public to inform the analysis in the Draft Proposed Order and to recommend conditions to include in the site certificate. There will be additional chances to provide comments to the Department and the Council after the Draft Proposed Order is issued, even if you do not submit any comments on the ASC.
To see a copy of the Application for Site Certificate
Click here to see a list of the various ASC exhibits that you can download or print. Printed copies of the Carty Generating Station ASC are available for public review at the ODOE offices in Salem and Hermiston, Oregon (please call ahead for an appointment) and at the Boardman Library (please call or check websites below for library operating hours):
Application for Site Certificate Exhibits:
A - F | G -N | O - V | W - DD
Boardman Library
200 South Main Street
Boardman, OR 97818
Phone: 541-481-2665
Web: www.oregontrail.plinkit.org
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Oregon Department of Energy
395 E. Highland Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
Phone: 541-567-3840, ext. 225
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ODOE Project Officer for the Carty Generating Station:
Sue Oliver
Energy Facility Siting Officer
Oregon Department of Energy
395 E. Highland Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
Phone: 541-567-3840, ext. 225
Toll free (Oregon only): 1-800-221-8035
Fax: 541-567-6861
sue.oliver@odoe.state.or.us
The next opportunity to provide comment on the proposed Carty Generating Station will be when the Draft Proposed Order is released for public comment. Please click here to be added to the project e-mail notification list for website updates. The earlier you raise any concerns, the better the opportunity the agency and the applicant have of addressing them.
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| Klamath Falls Bioenergy Facility - Application |
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On January 9, 2012, the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) issued a Draft Proposed Order (DPO) recommending that the Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) issue a site certificate for the Klamath Falls Bioenergy Facility, subject to the conditions included in the order. ODOE has scheduled a public hearing on the DPO on January 31, 2012 at 6:00 pm in Klamath Falls.
Information on the Klamath Falls Bioenergy Facility and the Draft Proposed Order can be found at http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/review.shtml#Klamath_Falls_Bioenergy.
To see a copy of the Application for Site Certificate
Click here to see a list of the various ASC exhibits that you can download or print. Printed copies of the ASC are available for public review at the ODOE offices in Salem and Hermiston, Oregon and at the Klamath County Library (please call or check websites for operating hours):
Klamath County Library
126 South 3rd Street
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Phone: 541-882-8891
Web: http://www.klamathlibrary.plinkit.org/
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Oregon Department of Energy
395 E. Highland Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
Phone: 541-567-3840
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ODOE Project Officer for the Klamath Falls Bioenergy Facility:
Duane Kilsdonk
Energy Facility Siting Officer
Oregon Department of Energy
395 E. Highland Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
Phone: 541-567-3840
Toll free (Oregon only): 1-800-221-8035
Fax: 541-567-6861
duane.kilsdonk@odoe.state.or.us
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| Klamath Generation Facility - Amendment |
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Klamath Generation LLC (KG) has submitted a request for an amendment of the site certificate for the Klamath Generation Facility (Amendment #3). The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (Siting Council) issued a site certificate for the Klamath Generation Facility (KGF) in September 2005. The deadlines for beginning and completing construction have been extended by amendments in 2007 and 2009. The facility has not been built. The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) is reviewing the amendment request.
Request for Amendment #3 (main text) [444 kb pdf]
Attachment 1 (figures) [3.7 MB pdf]
Attachment 2 (redline site certificate) [186 kb pdf]
Attachment 3 (species inquiry) [45 kb pdf]
Attachment 4 (cultural resource report) (confidential)
Attachment 5 (traffic impact analysis) [608 kb pdf]
Attachment 6 (wetland assessment) [149 kb pdf]
Attachment 7 (property owner list) (confidential)
Amendment #3 would extend the deadline for beginning construction to November 16, 2013, and would extend the deadline for completing construction to November 16, 2016. In addition, the amendment would authorize modification of the design of the facility and expansion of the site boundary.
As currently permitted, the KGF would be a combined-cycle, combustion turbine system fueled by natural gas and would have a nominal electric generating capacity of approximately 500 megawatts. If approved, the amendment would authorize construction and operation of a steam turbine generator system fueled by biomass that would have a nominal electric generating capacity of 35 megawatts. The facility would consume up to 210,000 bone dry tons of woody biomass annually.
The KGF site is next to the existing Klamath Cogeneration Project (KCP) and Klamath Generation Peakers facility (KGP). The amendment would increase the area within the KGF site boundary from approximately 77 acres to approximately 143 acres (including areas of temporary disturbance in addition to the permanent facility footprint).
The electric output of the KGF would be routed through the existing KGP transformer and would interconnect with PacifiCorp’s 500 kV Captain Jack to Meridian transmission line, which loops through the switchyard of the KCP.
The KGF would receive natural gas through a connection with the Pacific Gas & Electric Gas Transmission Bonanza to Medford Lateral pipeline at the northern edge of the project site. The KGF would use natural gas only during startup of the boiler. The facility would include an emergency diesel-fueled generator to provide backup electrical generating capacity.
The proposed facility would obtain potable water through a connection to the city water system in West Klamath. The KGF would discharge wastewater to the Spring Street Wastewater Treatment Plant through an existing pipeline serving the KCP.
The existing access road serving the KCP and KGP would be improved to support increased truck traffic required to supply fuel to the KGF and carry ash offsite. Improvements may include widening the access at Highway 97 and widening Highway 97 to add acceleration/deceleration lanes.
Siting Council Decision Process
After reviewing the proposed amendment and any comments received, ODOE will prepare a proposed order that will recommend to the Siting Council the approval, modification or denial of the amendment request. Upon the release of the proposed order, ODOE will issue a public notice and will announce a 30-day period for comments or requests for a contested case proceeding. The notice will explain the right to request a contested case hearing on the proposed order and will provide further information about the schedule for Siting Council review and decision on the proposed order. At an announced public meeting following the comment period, Siting Council will act on any requests for a contested case proceeding and on the proposed order.
Comments and Questions
If you have comments or questions about the facility or the Siting Council's permitting process, contact John White by e-mail (click this link) or by mail to: Oregon Department of Energy, 625 Marion Street NE, Salem Oregon 97301-3737, Telephone: 503-378-3194 or (800) 221-8035, extension 295 (toll-free in Oregon); Fax: (503) 373-7806.
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| Port Westward Generating Project - Amendment |
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Portland General Electric (PGE) has submitted a request for an amendment of the site certificate for the Port Westward Generating Project (Amendment #8). The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (Siting Council) issued a site certificate for the Port Westward Generating Project in 2002 that authorized construction of two combustion turbine units to be built in two phases. Construction on Unit 1 was completed in July 2007; construction on Unit 2 was deferred. Amendment #8 would extend the deadline for completing construction of Unit 2 to May 8, 2013.
The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) issued a Proposed Order on the Request for Amendment #8 on June 9, 2011. The Proposed Order recommends that the Siting Council approve the amendment request, subject to revisions proposed in the order. ODOE is accepting public comment on the Proposed Order until July 9, 2011.
Port Westward Generating Project
The Port Westward Generating Project (PWGP) is a natural gas-fired combustion turbine electric generating plant located at the Port Westward Industrial Area, about 4.5 miles north of Clatskanie, Oregon. The original site certificate for the facility was issued by ODOE in November 2002 and authorized up to 650 megawatts of capacity.
The site certificate authorized construction of two combustion turbine units to be built in two phases. Construction on the first unit began in February 2005 and that unit was declared operational in July 2007. Construction on Unit 2 was deferred.
As originally proposed, Unit 2 was expected to be a base load, natural gas-fired, combustion turbine combined cycle plant. The amended site certificate issued on March 12, 2010 authorizes the certificate holder to change the remaining permitted capacity from a base load to a variable load generating plant. This variable power plant (Unit 2) would be permitted as a non-base load power plant as defined in OAR 345-001-0010 (38). The design for Unit 2 would be either a set of reciprocating engines, or a set of simple-cycle combustion turbines each having nominal capacity of 100 MW, or some combination of reciprocating and combustion turbines totaling 200 MW. The amended site certificate authorized expansion of the energy facility site by 8.5 acres.
Description of the Amendment Request
The amendment request would change Condition F.1 (6) of the Site Certificate to extend the deadline for completing construction from May 8, 2011 to May 8, 2013, a period of 24 months. The amendment request would also change Condition D.13 (2) to change the deadline for a Traffic Improvement Agreement between the Certificate Holder and Columbia County from six months after the date of the Amendment to prior to application for construction permits for the facility. The amendment would not increase the generating capacity of the facility or change the construction footprint. The amendment request describes the proposed changes in greater detail.
Right to Request a Contested Case
Any person who disagrees with any of ODOE’s proposed orders may request a contested case hearing. As required under OAR 345-027-0070 (6), a request for contested case must include: (1) a description of the issues that you contest, (2) a statement of the facts that you believe to be at issue and (3) your mailing address.
A contested case is not automatic. The Siting Council will allow a contested case only if the request raises a significant issue of fact or law that may affect the Siting Council’s determination that the facility, with the changes proposed by the amendment, meets an applicable standard. The Siting Council will allow a contested case only if the request raises a significant issue of fact or law that may affect the Siting Council’s determination that the facility, with the changes proposed by the amendment, meets an applicable standard. The Siting Council will consider the general standards in OAR 345, Division 22 and specific standards in Division 24. The Siting Council standards are described at www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/SITING/standards.shtml.
How do I submit my comments?
You can submit your comments by writing, faxing, or emailing ODOE’s Project Officer. You can also submit your comments to ODOE’s Salem office listed below. Written comments on the application may be submitted by mail, fax, or email any time from June 9, 2011 through July 9, 2011. We must receive your comments no later than July 9, 2011.
To see a copy of the Proposed Order on the Request for Amendment #8
Click here to see the Proposed Order. Printed copies are available for public review at the ODOE offices in Salem (please call ahead for an appointment) and at the Clatskanie Public Library (please call or check websites below for library operating hours):
Clatskanie Public Library
11 Lillich Street
Clatskanie, OR 97016
Phone: 503-728-3732
Web: www.clatskanie.com/library.html
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Oregon Department of Energy
625 Marion Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-378-5050
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Accessibility Information
ODOE is committed to accommodating people with disabilities. Please notify us of any special physical or language accommodations or if you need information in an alternate format. To make these arrangements, contact Meiko Kristiansen at (503) 378-3895, toll-free in Oregon at (800) 221-8035, fax to (503) 373-7806, TTY 800-735-2900, or e-mail to meiko.kristiansen@odoe.state.or.us.
ODOE Project Officer for the Port Westward Generating Project:
Duane Kilsdonk
Energy Facility Siting Officer
Oregon Department of Energy
395 E. Highland Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
Phone: 541-567-3840, ext. 224
Toll free (Oregon only): 1-800-221-8035
Fax: 541-567-6861
duane.kilsdonk@odoe.state.or.us
The Project Officer can assist you with information about the amendment process and the proposed facility. The Project Officer can also accept your written comments about the proposed facility.
The earlier you raise any concerns, the better the opportunity the agency and the applicant have of addressing them.
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| Steering Committee Studies Oregon Wind Energy Facilities |
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Oregon’s Public Health Division is conducting a Health Impact Asssessment (click link for more information) to examine the potential health impacts, if any, that wind energy facilities may have on Oregon commuities. The Office of Environmental Public Health (OEPH) has completed a series of community listening sessions regarding Oregon wind farms. The listening sessions afforded people living near wind farms an opportunity to share their experiences.
The OEPH formed a steering committee to oversee the study process. The steering committee included representatives from communities near wind energy facilities, local and state agencies and decision makers and renewable energy developers.
The OEPH is working with a broad range of stakeholders to review feedback from those sessions. OEPH will release a draft report for public comment in the fall of 2011.
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