12-0160-EL-BGN: Buckeye II Wind Farm, Champaign County

Case No.:  12-0160-EL-BGN
Project:     Buckeye II Wind Farm
Company:  Champaign Wind LLC, EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc.
Location:   Champaign County
Status:       Adjudicatory Hearing

Champaign Wind, LLC, filed an application on May 15, 2012 to construct up to 56, 1.6 to 2.5 MW turbines with a maximum generating capacity of 140 MW in Champaign County. The project area is located within approximately 13,500 acres of leased private land in Goshen, Rush, Salem, Union, Urbana, and Wayne Townships. The facility is expected to operate with an average annual capacity factor of 30-35 percent, generating a total of 235,000 to 429,000 megawatt hours annually. The energy generated at the facility will deliver power to a single point of interconnection on the Urbana-Mechanicsburg-Darby 138 kV Transmission Line.  The Chairman issued a completeness letter on July 11, 2012.  After conducting its investigation, the OPSB staff filed its report of investigation on Oct. 10, 2012.   A local public hearing was held on Oct. 25, 2012 and the adjudicatory proceedings began on Nov. 8, 2012.  

Case Fact Sheet

Staff Report of Investigation

Certificate Application:

• Certificate Application

Certificate Application Figures:

• Figure 4-1: Constraints Map Index, Constraints Map
• Figure 5-1: Geography Topography Index, Geography Topography
• Figure 5-2: Aerial Photography Index, Aerial Photography
• Figure 5-3: Existing Features Index, Existing Features Legend, Existing Features
• Figure 5-4: Site Layout Index, Site Layout
• Figure 8-1: Ecological Features Index, Ecological Features
• Figure 8-2: Land Use Index, Land Use Legend, Land Use
• Figure 8-3: Agricultural Resources Index, Agricultural Resources

Certificate Application Exhibits:

• Exhibit B: Wind Resource Map
• Exhibit C: System Impact Study
• Exhibit D: Feasibility Study
• Exhibit E: Route Evaluation Study
• Exhibit F: Groundwater, Hydrogeology & Geotechnical Report
• Exhibit G: Economic Impact Assessment
• Exhibit H: Surface Waters, Ecological Comm, and TES
• Exhibit I: Fall 2007 Bird & Bat Migration Survey Report
• Exhibit J: Spring, Summer & Fall 2008 Bird & Bat Survey Report
• Exhibit K: Summer 2008 Bat Mist-Netting Report
• Exhibit L: Cultural Resources Report, Figure 3, Figure 4
• Exhibit M: Turbine Information - MM100, MM92, Nordex, Vesta V100, Gamesa G9x, GE 1.6, GE 2.5
• Exhibit N: Typical Construction Photos & Details
• Exhibit O: Sound Survey & Noise Impact Assessment, Graphic A
• Exhibit P: Shadow Flicker Report, Attachments C-G
• Exhibit Q: Visual Impact Assessment - Text
  • Appendix A: Visual Simulation Process
  • Appendix B: Large Scale Viewshed and Sensitive Resources, Sensitive Sites Table
  • Appendix C: Photo Log, Field Notes
  • Appendix D: Digital Visual Simulations
  • Appendix E: Typical Overhead Line-Substation Photos and Details
• Exhibit R: Turbine Safety Manuals - Gamesa, GE 1.5, Nordex, REPower, Vestas V100, VestasHealth
• Exhibit S: Aeronautical Studies - FAA, DOT196, DOT196A
• Exhibit T: Communication Studies - IRAC Letter, AM/FM, TV, Microwave, Mobile Phone