Application for A Large Wind Energy Conversion System Site Permit Walleye Wind, LLC Rock County, Minnesota MN PUC Docket Number: IP7026/WS-20-384 Amendment Submittal November 3, 2020 CONTENTS TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... vii FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... ix MAPS x APPENDICES .............................................................................................................................. xi ACRONYM/TERM DEFINITIONS ......................................................................................... xii MINNESOTA RULE COMPLIANCE .................................................................................. xviii 1.0 APPLICANT INFORMATION ...................................................................................... 1 1.1 Letter of transmittal signed by an authorized representative or agent of the applicant. .... 2 1.2 Complete name, address, and telephone number of the applicant and any authorized representative. The authorized representatives for the Applicant are: ....................................... 2 1.3 Signature of the preparer of the application if prepared by an agent or consultant of the applicant. .................................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Role of the applicant in the construction and operation of the LWECS. .......................... 2 1.5 Operator of the LWECS if different from the applicant. .................................................. 2 1.6 Statement of Ownership and list of any other LWECS or other energy facilities located in Minnesota in which the applicant, or a principal of the applicant, has an ownership or other financial interest. ........................................................................................................................ 3 2.0 CERTIFICATE OF NEED .............................................................................................. 4 3.0 STATE POLICY ............................................................................................................... 5 4.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND OVERVIEW ............................................................ 6 4.1 Project Location ................................................................................................................ 6 4.2 Size of the Site in Acres .................................................................................................... 8 4.3 Rated Capacity .................................................................................................................. 8 4.4 Number of Turbines and Alternate Turbine Locations ..................................................... 8 4.5 Meteorological Towers ...................................................................................................... 8 4.6 Percent of Wind Rights Secured ....................................................................................... 8 5.0 PROJECT DESIGN.......................................................................................................... 9 5.1 Description of Project Layout ........................................................................................... 9 5.2 Description of Turbines and Towers ............................................................................... 14 5.3 Description of Electrical System ..................................................................................... 16 6.0 DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION OF ASSOCIATED FACILITIES ..................... 18 ii 6.1 Transmission and Project Substations ............................................................................. 18 6.2 Collector Lines and Feeder Lines .................................................................................... 18 6.3 Associated Facilities ........................................................................................................ 19 7.0 WIND RIGHTS ............................................................................................................... 21 8.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ................................................................................... 22 8.1 Demographics .................................................................................................................. 23 8.1.1 Population Density ................................................................................................. 23 8.1.2 Environmental Justice Analysis ............................................................................. 23 8.2 Land Use .......................................................................................................................... 25 8.2.1 Local Zoning and Comprehensive Plans ................................................................ 25 8.2.2 County or Local Ordinances ................................................................................... 26 8.2.3 Current and Future Zoning ..................................................................................... 26 8.3 Conservation Easements .................................................................................................. 27 8.4 Noise ................................................................................................................................ 29 8.4.1 Modeling Methodology and Ambient Sound Levels ............................................. 29 8.4.2 Projected Post-Project Sound Levels ..................................................................... 35 8.4.3 Turbine and Facility Lighting ................................................................................. 38 8.4.4 Potential Impacts and Mitigation ........................................................................... 38 8.5 Visual Impacts ................................................................................................................. 38 Turbine and Facility Lighting ................................................................................................ 42 8.5.1 Visual Impacts on Public Resources ...................................................................... 42 8.5.2 Visual Impacts on Private Lands and Homes ......................................................... 43 8.5.3 Shadow Flicker ....................................................................................................... 43 8.6 Public Services and Infrastructure ................................................................................... 48 8.6.1 Roads ...................................................................................................................... 48 8.6.2 Communication Systems ........................................................................................ 51 8.6.3 Television ............................................................................................................... 54 8.6.4 Cell Towers and Broadband Interference ............................................................... 57 8.7 Cultural and Archaeological Resources .......................................................................... 58 8.7.1 Description of Historic and Archaeological Resources ................................................ 58 8.7.2 Potential Cultural and Archaeological Impacts ...................................................... 63 iii 8.8 Recreation ........................................................................................................................ 64 8.8.1 Description of Resources ................................................................................................. 64 8.9 Public Health and Safety ................................................................................................. 67 8.9.1 Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) .............................................................................. 67 8.9.2 Aviation .................................................................................................................. 70 8.10 Hazardous Materials ........................................................................................................ 73 8.11 Land-based Economies .................................................................................................... 74 8.12 Tourism ........................................................................................................................... 79 8.13 Local Economies and Community Benefits .................................................................... 80 8.13.1 Potential Economic Impacts ................................................................................... 80 8.13.2 Tax Payments and Local Spending ........................................................................ 81 8.13.3 Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................... 82 8.14 Topography ..................................................................................................................... 82 8.15 Soils ................................................................................................................................. 83 8.16 Geologic and Groundwater Resources ............................................................................ 87 8.17 Surface Water and Floodplains ......................................................................................