BEFORE THE ENERGY FACILITY SITING COUNCIL OF THE STATE OF OREGON ) In the Matter of the Application for a Site Certificate ) FINAL ORDER for the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm ) ) The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council July 25, 2008 SHEPHERDS FLAT WIND FARM FINAL ORDER TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 1 II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY .............................................................................................................................. 2 1. THE SITE CERTIFICATE APPLICATION ................................................................................................................. 2 III. GENERAL FINDINGS OF FACT ................................................................................................................... 5 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED FACILITY ......................................................................................................... 5 (a) Project Overview ............................................................................................................................................ 5 (b) The Energy Facility ........................................................................................................................................ 5 (c) Related or Supporting Facilities...................................................................................................................... 7 Power Collection System ........................................................................................................................... 7 Collector Substations and Interconnection ................................................................................................. 7 Meteorological Towers ............................................................................................................................... 8 Field Workshops ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Control System ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Access Roads .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Additional Construction Areas ................................................................................................................... 9 2. LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED FACILITY .............................................................................................................. 9 3. THE SITE AND SITE BOUNDARY ........................................................................................................................ 10 4. CONSTRUCTION DEADLINES ............................................................................................................................. 10 IV. THE COUNCIL’S SITING STANDARDS: FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ...................................... 10 1. GENERAL STANDARD OF REVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 11 2. STANDARDS ABOUT THE APPLICANT ................................................................................................................ 11 (a) Organizational Expertise............................................................................................................................... 11 A. Applicant’s Expertise .............................................................................................................................. 12 B. Third-Party Permits ................................................................................................................................. 13 (b) Retirement and Financial Assurance ............................................................................................................ 13 A. Retirement ............................................................................................................................................... 13 B. Estimated Cost of Site Restoration .......................................................................................................... 14 C. Ability of the Applicant to Obtain a Bond or Letter of Credit ................................................................. 16 3. STANDARDS ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION .......................................................... 17 (a) Land Use ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 A. Gilliam County’s Applicable Substantive Criteria .................................................................................. 20 GCZO Section 4.020(A): EFU Exclusive Farm Use ................................................................................ 20 GCZO Section 4.020(D)(14): Conditional Uses Permitted ...................................................................... 21 GCZO Section 4.020(J): Property Development Standards ..................................................................... 22 GCZO Section 7.010(A)(1): General Approval Criteria and Conditions (1)............................................ 25 GCZO Section 7.010(A)(2): General Approval Criteria and Conditions (2)............................................ 28 GCZO Section 7.020(Q): Conditional Uses in Exclusive Farm Use Zones ............................................. 30 GCZO Section 7.020(T): Wind Power Generation Facility Siting Requirements .................................... 32 B. Morrow County’s Applicable Substantive Criteria ................................................................................. 38 MCZO Section 1.050: Zoning Permit ...................................................................................................... 39 MCZO Section 3.010(D)(16): Conditional Uses Permitted ..................................................................... 41 MCZO Section 3.010(D): Limitations on Conditional Uses .................................................................... 42 MCZO Section 3.010(G): Dimensional Standards ................................................................................... 42 MCZO Section 3.010(I): Transportation Impacts..................................................................................... 43 MCZO Section 6.020: General Criteria .................................................................................................... 44 MCZO Section 6.030: General Conditions .............................................................................................. 47 MCZO Section 6.040: Permit and Improvements Assurance ................................................................... 48 SHEPHERDS FLAT WIND FARM FINAL ORDER - July 25, 2008 - i - MCZO Section 6.050(O): Standards Governing Conditional Uses: Radio, Television Tower, Utility Station or Substation................................................................................................................................. 49 C. Applicable Statewide Planning Goals...................................................................................................... 50 The Principal Use ..................................................................................................................................... 51 The Access Roads .................................................................................................................................... 52 Substations and Interconnection Line ....................................................................................................... 53 D. Goal 3 Exception ..................................................................................................................................... 55 (b) Soil Protection .............................................................................................................................................. 58 A. Impacts During Construction ................................................................................................................... 58 B. Impacts During Operation ....................................................................................................................... 59 C. Control and Impact Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................ 59 (c) Protected Areas ............................................................................................................................................. 60 A. Noise ........................................................................................................................................................ 62 B. Traffic ...................................................................................................................................................... 63 C. Water Use and Wastewater Disposal ....................................................................................................... 63 D. Visual Impacts ......................................................................................................................................... 63 (d) Scenic Resources .........................................................................................................................................