Final Decision Issued on Reopening
In May of 2021 the Commission issued a final decision for this project.
In February of 2023, the case was reopened to consider a request by the applicant to install an additional 100 MW of battery storage capacity.
In August of 2023, the Commission issued a Final Decision on Reopening, thereby amending the original Order to include authorization to install the requested additional battery storage capacity.
Quarterly construction updates and post decision correspondence between the Commission and the Applicant can be found in the corresponding docket reports.
Docket Reports: 9804-CE-100
Town of Potosi, Grant County, Wisconsin
Docket ID: 9804-CE-100
Application for Grant County Solar, LLC to Construct a New Solar Electric Generation Facility located near Potosi and Harrison townships, in Grant County, Wisconsin.
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Application Summary
Overview: Grant County Solar, LLC is proposing a 200 megawatt photovoltaic (PV) solar electric generation facility. The project would be located on approximately 2,058 acres (3.21 square miles) of primarily agricultural land, in the town of Potosi, Grant County, in which approximately 1,403 acres (2.19 square miles) would be developed to host the proposed solar facilities. The major components of the project would include PV panels, power conversion units (which include an inverter and transformer), approximately 32 miles of 34.5 kilovolt (kV) underground collector circuits, a collector substation, and a new approximately 200-foot 138 kV generation transmission tie-line. The solar arrays and substation would be fenced, and the applicant has provided some alternative solar array sites for evaluation and use if needed. The project would be located approximately 3 miles north of the villages of Potosi and Tennyson.
Applicant stated need: This project is proposed by an independent power producer, Grant County Solar, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. As such, the need for the project is not reviewed by the Commission. Grant County Solar has stated that they intend to either; directly or indirectly through its affiliates, construct and operate the project by selling the power using one or more long term power purchase agreements. Grant County Solar would reserve the right to sell or assign the project, or a portion thereof, to another qualified entity at any time before, during or after the project is constructed.
Estimated cost: This project is proposed by an independent power producer, and the Commission does not review the project cost or need. The cost to Wisconsin utilities, and ratepayers, would be reviewed when the power from the facility is purchased by Wisconsin utilities.
Project Location (see map): The Town of Potosi in Grant County, Wisconsin.
Proposed schedule:
- The application was submitted to the Commission on May 7, 2020.
- The Commission is reviewing the project, with no firm schedule as to a decision date at this time. The environmental analysis will occur over the next several months and a Commission decision may occur in the autumn of 2020.
- If approved, the proposed construction schedule for this project is to begin in October, 2021. The project is proposed to be completed and in service by December 1, 2023.
Statutory Review
The solar electric generation facility is a
Type III action under
Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 4.10(3). Type III actions normally do not require preparation of an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS) under Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 4.10(3). However, an evaluation of a specific Type III proposal may indicate that the preparation of an EA is warranted for that proposal. The Commission will prepare an EA for this project that will evaluate the location of the project and its potential environmental, community, and private property impacts. There will be a preliminary determination when the EA is complete that will determine whether the preparation of an EIS is necessary. Comments on this preliminary determination will be accepted and considered before a final determination is made. At the time of the preliminary determination, the Commission shall make copies of the EA available to those persons that request it.
Key Application Documents
Access Docket 9804-CE-100 in the PSC Case Management System to view additional information.
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Access Docket 9804-CE-100
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