Bricker & Eckler LLP Dylan F. Borchers 100 South Third Street Direct Dial: 614.227.4914 Columbus, OH 43215 [email protected] Office: 614.227.2300 www.bricker.com Fax: 614.227.2390 [email protected] July 30, 2020 Via Electronic Filing Ms. Tanowa Troupe Administration/Docketing Ohio Power Siting Board 180 East Broad Street, 11th Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215-3793 Re: Arche Energy Project, LLC, Case No 20-979-EL-BGN Dear Ms. Troupe: Enclosed for filing in the above-referenced case is a copy of the Application of Arche Energy Project LLC (“Arche Energy”) for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to develop, construct, and operate a 107 megawatt (“MW”) solar-powered electric facility in Gorham Township, Fulton County, Ohio. Name of Applicant: Arche Energy Project, LLC whose authorized representative is Cliff Scher Senior Director, Development 7X Energy, Inc. 3809 Juniper Trace Suite 100 Austin, TX 78738 Name/Location of Proposed Facility: Arche Energy Project, LLC 107 MW Solar-Powered Electric Facility Gorham Township, Fulton County, Ohio Authorized Representative Technical: Cliff Scher Senior Director, Development 7X Energy, Inc. 3809 Juniper Trace Suite 100, Austin, TX 78738 Telephone: (917) 921-4473 E:Mail: [email protected] 15240558v1 Case No. 20-979-EL-BGN July 30, 2020 Page 2 Authorized Representative Legal: Dylan Borchers Devin D. Parram Jhay T. Spottswood Bricker & Eckler LLP 100 South Third Street Columbus, OH 43215 Telephone: (614) 227-2300 Facsimile: (614) 227-2390 E-Mail: [email protected] Since the pre-application notification letter was filed, there have been no revisions that appear in the application. Notarized Statement: See Attached Affidavit of Scott Pryor, on behalf of Arche Energy Project, LLC Sincerely on behalf of ARCHE ENERGY PROJECT, LLC Dylan F. Borchers Enclosure 15240558v1 APPLICATION TO THE OHIO POWER SITING BOARD FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPATIBILITY AND PUBLIC NEED FOR Arche Solar Fulton County, Ohio Case No. 20-0979-EL-BGN July 2020 Prepared for: Arche Energy Project, LLC a wholly-owned subsidiary of 7X Energy, Inc. 3809 Juniper Trace, Suite 100 Austin, TX 78738 Contact: Cliff Scher, Director of Project Development Tel: 866.298.1632 Prepared by: Environmental Design & Research, Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Environmental Services, D.P.C. 217 Montgomery Street, Suite 1000 Syracuse, NY 13202 Contact: Chris Cunningham, Midwest Practice Lead Tel: 315.471.0688 ext. 671 www.edrdpc.com TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................................. iii List of Insets .................................................................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................................... iv List of Exhibits ............................................................................................................................................................... iv Acronyms and Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... v 4906-4-01 PURPOSE AND SCOPE........................................................................................................................... 1 (A) Requirements for Filing Certificate Applications ........................................................................................ 1 (B) Waivers ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 4906-4-02 PROJECT SUMMARY AND APPLICANT INFORMATION ....................................................................... 2 (A) Project Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 2 (B) Applicant Information ................................................................................................................................ 3 4906-4-03 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND SCHEDULE ........................................................................................... 6 (A) Project Area Description............................................................................................................................ 6 (B) Detailed Description of Proposed Facility .................................................................................................. 8 (C) Detailed Project Schedule ....................................................................................................................... 14 4906-4-04 PROJECT AREA SELECTION AND SITE DESIGN ............................................................................... 18 (A) Project Area Selection ............................................................................................................................. 18 (B) Facility Layout Design Process ............................................................................................................... 21 4906-4-05 ELECTRIC GRID INTERCONNECTION ................................................................................................. 24 (A) Connection to the Regional Electric Grid ................................................................................................ 24 (B) Interconnection Information ..................................................................................................................... 24 4906-4-06 ECONOMIC IMPACT AND PUBLIC INTERACTION .............................................................................. 26 (A) Ownership ............................................................................................................................................... 26 (B) Capital and Intangible Costs ................................................................................................................... 26 (C) Operation and Maintenance Expenses ................................................................................................... 27 (D) Cost of Delays ......................................................................................................................................... 27 (E) Economic Impact of the Project ............................................................................................................... 28 (F) Public Responsibility ............................................................................................................................... 31 4906-4-07 COMPLIANCE WITH AIR, WATER, SOLID WASTE, AND AVIATION REGULATIONS ........................ 37 (A) Purpose ................................................................................................................................................... 37 (B) Air ............................................................................................................................................................ 37 (C) Water ....................................................................................................................................................... 37 (D) Solid Waste ............................................................................................................................................. 42 (E) Aviation ................................................................................................................................................... 43 4906-4-08 HEALTH AND SAFETY, LAND USE, AND ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION ........................................... 44 (A) Health and Safety .................................................................................................................................... 44 (B) Ecological Impact .................................................................................................................................... 55 (C) Land Use and Community Development ................................................................................................. 75 (D) Cultural and Archaeological Resources .................................................................................................. 87 (E) Agricultural Resources ............................................................................................................................ 96 4906-6-05 ACCELERATED APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GEN-TIE LINE ............................................ 101 (A) Form and Content Requirements .......................................................................................................... 101 (B) Data and Information Requirements ..................................................................................................... 101 Literature Cited .......................................................................................................................................................... 105 Arche Energy Project, LLC 20-0979-EL-BGN Table of Contents – Page ii LIST OF TABLES Table 02-1. Utility-Scale Solar Projects Developed by 7X Energy ................................................................................. 4 Table 06-1. Local Economic Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 29 Table