STOP Chevelon Butte Wind Farm
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Application for a Special Use Permit CHEVELON BUTTE WIND FARM Prepared for: Navajo County Planning and Zoning Department Submitted by: Chevelon Butte RE LLC September 20, 2019 September 20, 2019 Sandra Phillips Navajo County Planning and Zoning Department P.O. Box 668 Holbrook, AZ 86025 Dear Ms. Phillips: Chevelon Butte RE LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of sPower Development Company, LLC (“sPower”), is pleased to submit this Special Use Permit application to Navajo County to allow construction and operation of a 477 megawatt (AC) maximum capacity wind energy project on what is commonly known as the Chevelon Butte Ranch; south of Winslow, Arizona, as further depicted and described in this application. We have engaged industry-leading experts to perform various environmental, cultural, and other siting studies to identify and mitigate impacts to applicable resources. We are committed to agency and stakeholder consultation, and have been working with various local, state, and federal agencies in developing this planned wind energy project. While the project is sited in a remote location away from residential and developed areas, and incorporates a setback from the project boundary, we have launched a successful public outreach and comment program to facilitate a robust discussion with nearby communities, including continual updates to chevelonbuttewind.com. The Chevelon Butte Wind Farm would bring many local economic and environmental benefits, as further described below, and we are excited to bring more cost-competitive, reliable, and air emissions-free electricity to northern Arizona. Enclosed is Check No. 0266 in the amount of $10,000 for the Special Use Permit Application Fee. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 970-302-9457, or Jeffrey Nemeth at 309-531- 0440. We look forward to working with you on the Chevelon Butte Wind Farm as we continue to advance renewable energy in the state of Arizona. Sincerely, Chevelon Butte RE LLC By: Terrance Unrein, Senior Permitting Manager sPower 2180 1300 E #600 Salt Lake City, UT 84106 [email protected] 2180 South 1300 East, Suite 600, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 www.sPower.com Application for a Special Use Permit CHEVELON BUTTE WIND FARM CONTENTS Application Form Narrative Exhibit A – Description of Project Components Exhibit B – Adjacent Landowners Exhibit C – Proof of Legal Access Exhibit D – Citizen Participation Report Exhibit E – Noise Study Exhibit F – Visual Impact Assessment Exhibit G – Arizona Game and Fish Department Letter Exhibit H – Environmental Studies Site Plan (in pocket) Context Plan (in pocket) SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION CHEVELON BUTTE WIND FARM NARRATIVE NARRATIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Description of the Applicant ..................................................................................................................... 1 Description of the Project ......................................................................................................................... 1 Location of the Project and Land Ownership ........................................................................................... 2 Relationship to Surrounding Properties (uses, zoning, etc.) ..................................................................... 2 Surrounding Properties in Navajo County ............................................................................................ 2 Surrounding Properties in Neighboring Coconino County ................................................................... 3 Proof of Legal Access to the Site .............................................................................................................. 3 Proposed Site Access ................................................................................................................................ 3 Schedule and Phasing ............................................................................................................................... 3 Community Facilities and Services within Three Miles of the Project Boundary .................................... 3 Conformance to the Navajo County Comprehensive Plan ....................................................................... 4 Public Participation ................................................................................................................................... 4 Conformance to Navajo County Development Standards and Requirements .......................................... 4 Setbacks ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Noise ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 Visual Impact ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Lighting ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Signage Plan .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Variance Request ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Setbacks ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Noise Assessment Methodology ........................................................................................................... 7 Legal description ................................................................................................................................... 7 Environmental Due Diligence ................................................................................................................... 7 Coordination with Wildlife Agencies ................................................................................................... 7 Environmental Studies .......................................................................................................................... 8 Conservation Planning .......................................................................................................................... 8 Revegetation ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Weed Control ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Site Drainage ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Excavation Methods .................................................................................................................................. 9 Decommissioning Plan ............................................................................................................................. 9 Economic Benefits .................................................................................................................................. 11 Chevelon Butte Wind Farm Narrative-i September 20, 2019 Navajo County SUP Application NARRATIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) EXHIBITS Exhibit A – Description of Project Components Exhibit B – Adjacent Landowners Exhibit C – Proof of Legal Access Exhibit D – Citizen Participation Report Exhibit E – Noise Study Exhibit F – Visual Impact Assessment Exhibit G – Arizona Game and Fish Department Letter Exhibit H – Environmental Studies FIGURES Figure 1. Navajo County Special Use Permit Area. ............................................................................... 12 Chevelon Butte Wind Farm Narrative-ii September 20, 2019 Navajo County SUP Application Introduction Chevelon Butte RE LLC (Applicant) is requesting a Special Use Permit (SUP) from Navajo County to allow the construction and operation of the Chevelon Butte Wind Farm (Wind Farm), a proposed 477- megawatt (MW) maximum nameplate capacity wind energy facility. The planned 41,627-acre Wind Farm site is located mostly on what is commonly referred to as the Chevelon Butte Ranch, approximately 18 miles1 south of Winslow in both Navajo County (3,650 acres) and Coconino County (37,977 acres). The “Permit Area” referenced throughout this SUP application is the 3,650-acre portion of the Wind Farm site in Navajo County as depicted in Figure 1 at the end of this narrative and in the Site Plan. To allow construction and operation of the Wind Farm components located in neighboring Coconino County, the Applicant is also applying for a Conditional Use Permit from Coconino County. Description of the Applicant Chevelon Butte RE LLC is a direct subsidiary of sPower Development Company, LLC. Established in 2012, sPower is the largest private owner of operating solar assets in the United States. The company owns and operates a portfolio of solar and wind assets greater than 1.5 gigawatts (GW) and has a development pipeline of more than 10 GW. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, sPower is owned by a joint venture partnership between The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), a worldwide