Permit decision for large solar project in Minnesota's Renville County likely by summer's end
.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and Department of Commerce hosted the second in-person public hearing for the
project in Olivia on March 31, followed by an online hearing on April 1.
Administrative Law Judge Kristien Butler said he will issue his findings on the application by the project developer, Ranger Power, on June 2. The Public Utilities Commission will decide in July or August whether or not to permit the project, according to the project's timetable.
The environmental assessment for the project is completed and available at the
for the project, according to Jessica Livingston, environmental review manager with the Department of Commerce. Go to
and search Docket No. 24-106.
Ranger Power, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is seeking to develop a 200-megawatt solar energy site. The Gopher State Solar project would erect solar panels on 977 acres of land within a 1,645-acre area of leased property located primarily north of Bird Island in Kingman and Osceola townships and a small portion in Bird Island.
Bifacial solar panels that produce electricity from direct and reflected light are planned. They would be aligned to the south and track the sun east to west, said Sergio Trevino, vice president of siting for
, in his April 1 presentation.
The project represents a $200 million investment in Renville County, according to Trevino.
The company representative said the project would provide $32 million in tax revenues to the county and local government units over its project life. It will provide a $79,000 tax impact in its first year while creating 200 construction jobs.
At the April 1 hearing, the lone participant to offer comment on the project was Lucas Franco, representing the Laborers' International Union of North America in Minnesota. He offered support for the project and cited the company's commitment to hire local contractors and workers for its construction.
Renville County has raised concerns about the project. During discussions at the
meeting on April 1, it was also noted that some landowners neighboring the site were present at the in-person hearing.
It was stated at the hearing that property values can decrease by about 4% for residences within a half-mile of a solar site, according to the discussions.
The visual aesthetics, possible glare from the panels, and possible humming and other noise from the electrical equipment were issues raised at an Oct. 29, 2024, hearing held in Olivia on the project.
The Renville County commissioners have expressed concerns that the cost for decommissioning the project could fall on the county if the project fails financially. It is seeking a decommissioning agreement with Ranger Power to provide financial assurance for those potential costs, but the sides differ greatly on what the costs could be.
Ranger Power estimates that decommissioning costs could total $1.4 million. The company's estimate is based on expectations of approximately $5.5 million in salvage value for the solar panels and materials and $7 million in costs for removal and site restoration.
Renville County maintains that decommissioning costs could total $21 million as there is no way to predict the value of the materials two decades or more in the future.
In a letter to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Scott Refsland, director of Renville County Environmental Services, said a company proposing a 125-megawatt solar project in the county estimates the decommissioning costs at $3.3 million to $5 million, or as much as $6.5 million more than Ranger Power estimates for its much larger project.
The county is asking that if the project is permitted, language in the permit allow the county to pursue all legal options against the project owner — and, if applicable, against landowners — to recover any decommissioning costs that would become the county's responsibility if an agreement is not reached with Ranger Power.
The Gopher State Solar project is one of two large solar projects in the permitting process in Renville County.
of Salt Lake City, Utah, a subsidiary of AES Clean Energy, is seeking to develop a 125-megawatt project in an approximate 1,000-acre footprint in Birch Cooley, Camp and Bandon townships and the city of Franklin.
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