Public Utilities Commission Application for a Site Permit and Two Route Permits for the Sherco Solar Project Northern States Power Company Sherburne County, Minnesota Docket No. E-002/GS-21-191 Docket No. E-002/ TL-21-190 Docket No. E-002/ TL-21-189 April 2021 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401 Applicant: Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy Address: 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401 Authorized Representative: Melissa Schmit National Grid Renewables Development, LLC Signature: Phone: 952-988-9000 Fax: 952-988-9001 Email: [email protected] Xcel Energy Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................... 2 Certificate of Need ..............................................................................................4 1.2 Applicant Information .................................................................................................... 5 Permittee and Contact Information .....................................................................5 1.3 Project Schedule ............................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Request for Joint Proceeding .......................................................................................... 6 1.5 Application Structure ..................................................................................................... 7 2.0 SOLAR PROJECT INFORMATION ............................................................................ 8 2.1 Overall Solar Project Description ................................................................................... 8 Statement of Ownership ......................................................................................9 Size and Location ................................................................................................9 Prohibited and Exclusion Sites ..........................................................................14 Alternatives Considered but Rejected ...............................................................14 Cost Analysis .....................................................................................................15 Future Expansion ...............................................................................................15 2.2 ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONAL DESIGN..................................................... 15 Design ................................................................................................................16 Project Layout ...................................................................................................24 Estimated Project Facility Acreages ..................................................................25 Project Construction ..........................................................................................26 Project Operation and Maintenance ..................................................................30 Decommissioning and Repowering ...................................................................33 3.0 WEST HVTL PROJECT INFORMATION................................................................. 36 3.1 Alternative Permitting Process for Route Permit ......................................................... 36 Notice to the Commission .................................................................................36 3.2 West HVTL Project Proposal ....................................................................................... 36 Statement of Ownership ....................................................................................37 Route Width ......................................................................................................37 Transmission Structure and Conductor Design .................................................38 Transmission Line Right-of-Way ......................................................................40 Project Costs ......................................................................................................40 Design Options to Accommodate Future Expansion ........................................40 3.3 West HVTL Project – Facility Design and Route Selection Process ........................... 40 Route Selection Process ....................................................................................41 Proposed Route Description ..............................................................................42 Alternative Route Segments Considered but Rejected ......................................42 3.4 West HVTL Project - Right-of-Way Acquisition, Construction, Restoration, and Maintenance ................................................................................................................. 43 Right-of-Way Acquisition .................................................................................43 Construction Process .........................................................................................43 Restoration and Clean-up ..................................................................................45 Maintenance Practices .......................................................................................45 Page i Xcel Energy Table of Contents 4.0 EAST HVTL PROJECT INFORMATION ................................................................. 47 4.1 Alternative Permitting Process for Route Permit ......................................................... 47 Notice to the Commission .................................................................................47 4.2 East HVTL Project Proposal ........................................................................................ 47 Statement of Ownership ....................................................................................48 Route Width ......................................................................................................48 Transmission Structure and Conductor Design .................................................49 Transmission Line Right-of-Way ......................................................................50 Project Costs ......................................................................................................51 Design Options to Accommodate Future Expansion ........................................51 4.3 East HVTL Project – Facility Design and Route Selection Process ............................ 51 Route Selection Process ....................................................................................51 Proposed Route Description ..............................................................................53 Alternative Route Segments Considered but Rejected ......................................53 4.4 East HVTL Project - Right-of-Way Acquisition, Construction, Restoration, and Maintenance ................................................................................................................. 53 Right-of-Way Acquisition .................................................................................53 Construction Process .........................................................................................53 Restoration and Clean-up ..................................................................................55 Maintenance Practices .......................................................................................56 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION ...................................................................... 57 5.1 Environmental Setting .................................................................................................. 60 5.2 Human Settlement ........................................................................................................ 61 Emergency Services, Public Health, and Safety ...............................................61 Electric and Magnetic Fields .............................................................................65 Displacement .....................................................................................................74 Noise ..................................................................................................................75 Aesthetics ..........................................................................................................82 Socioeconomics .................................................................................................91 Cultural Values ..................................................................................................95 Recreation ..........................................................................................................97 Land Use and Zoning ......................................................................................100 Public Services and Infrastructure ...................................................................107 5.3 Land-Based Economies .............................................................................................. 119 Agriculture .......................................................................................................119 Forestry ............................................................................................................122 Tourism ...........................................................................................................124 Mining