Wyoming Industrial Development Information and Siting Act Section 109 Permit Application even Mile Hill S Wind Energy Project Prepared for: Prepared by: November 2007 Wyoming Industrial Development Information and Siting Act Section 109 Permit Application Seven Mile Hill Wind Energy Project Submitted By: PacifiCorp Energy November 2007 Prepared By: 9193 South Jamaica Street Englewood, CO 80112 DEN/ES092007001.DOC Page intentionally left blank. DEN/ES092007001.DOC Contents Section Page Acronyms and Abbreviations .........................................................................................................vi Executive Summary...................................................................................................................... ES-1 Project Location .................................................................................................................ES-1 Project Components ..........................................................................................................ES-2 Schedule and Cost .............................................................................................................ES-2 Construction Workforce Requirements..........................................................................ES-2 Public Involvement - ISA Statute Meeting Activities...................................................ES-3 Socioeconomic Impacts.....................................................................................................ES-3 Environmental Impacts ....................................................................................................ES-4 1.0 Purpose, Need, and Benefit ............................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Project Purpose and Need ..................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Project Benefits........................................................................................................ 1-2 1.2.1 Point of Delivery - Goods and Services................................................. 1-2 1.2.2 Taxes........................................................................................................... 1-2 2.0 Applicant and Facility Description.................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Applicant Information ........................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Project Location....................................................................................................... 2-2 2.3 Site Legal Description ............................................................................................ 2-3 2.4 Facility Description ................................................................................................ 2-4 2.4.1 Seven Mile Hill Project Description ....................................................... 2-5 2.5 Wind Turbine Generators...................................................................................... 2-5 2.5.1 Rotor Blades............................................................................................... 2-5 2.5.2 Nacelle........................................................................................................ 2-6 2.5.3 Tower Structures....................................................................................... 2-6 2.5.4 Foundations............................................................................................... 2-6 2.6 Additional Project Features................................................................................... 2-6 2.6.1 Access Roads ............................................................................................. 2-6 2.6.2 Power Collection System......................................................................... 2-7 2.6.3 SCADA System ......................................................................................... 2-7 2.6.4 Substation .................................................................................................. 2-8 2.6.5 Meteorological Towers............................................................................. 2-8 2.6.6 Operation and Maintenance Building ................................................... 2-8 2.6.7 Lighting Specifications............................................................................. 2-8 3.0 Construction and Operations Descriptions.................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Construction Procedures ....................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Site Civil Work/Preparation................................................................... 3-2 3.1.2 Access Road/Crane Pad Preparation .................................................... 3-2 3.1.3 Tower Foundations .................................................................................. 3-2 3.1.4 Trenching and Placement of Underground Electric Conductor........ 3-2 3.1.5 Substation/Switch Yard .......................................................................... 3-3 3.1.6 Tower Assembly ....................................................................................... 3-3 DEN/ES092007001.DOC ii CONTENTS 3.1.7 Transformers ............................................................................................. 3-3 3.1.8 Testing........................................................................................................ 3-3 3.1.9 Cleanup/Reclamation.............................................................................. 3-4 3.1.10 Site Decommissioning.............................................................................. 3-4 3.1.11 Safety Mechanisms ................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.12 Construction Emergency Response/Plan ............................................. 3-6 3.2 Construction Schedule........................................................................................... 3-6 3.3 Construction Workforce Estimate........................................................................ 3-9 3.3.1 Construction Management Workforce ................................................ 3-10 3.3.2 Single Worker.......................................................................................... 3-11 3.3.3 Local to Non-local Workforce Ratio..................................................... 3-11 3.4 List of Permits Required for Construction........................................................ 3-11 3.5 Construction Workforce Housing Plan ............................................................. 3-12 3.6 Operation and Maintenance Activities.............................................................. 3-13 3.6.1 Wind Turbine Generators...................................................................... 3-13 3.6.2 Operation and Maintenance Building ................................................. 3-14 3.6.3 Transformers ........................................................................................... 3-14 3.6.4 Underground Collection Line............................................................... 3-14 3.6.5 Products Used for Operations .............................................................. 3-14 3.7 Operations Workforce Employment.................................................................. 3-15 3.8 Anticipated Operation Life of Project................................................................ 3-16 4.0 Socioeconomic Baseline Data and Analysis of Impacts............................................... 4-1 4.1 Study Area............................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Baseline Socioeconomic Conditions within Project Area ................................. 4-2 4.2.1 Population.................................................................................................. 4-2 4.2.2 Economic Conditions ............................................................................... 4-8 4.2.3 Housing.................................................................................................... 4-28 4.2.4 Project Housing Demand ...................................................................... 4-46 4.2.5 Education ................................................................................................. 4-48 4.2.6 Public Safety ............................................................................................ 4-53 4.2.7 Health Care.............................................................................................. 4-59 4.2.8 Municipal Services.................................................................................. 4-67 4.2.9 Transportation......................................................................................... 4-73 4.3 Socioeconomic Impact Analysis ......................................................................... 4-81 4.3.1 Area of Impact......................................................................................... 4-82 4.3.2 IMPLAN Socioeconomic Impact Modeling ........................................ 4-82 4.3.3 Housing Impact Analysis ...................................................................... 4-88 4.3.4 Education Impact Analysis ................................................................... 4-89 4.3.5 Public Safety ...........................................................................................