Latest news with #RangerPower
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed Olmsted County solar project could end resident's rural dream
May 20—VIOLA TOWNSHIP, Minn. — Clint Mulholland had a dream. When he was 5, he and his father were watering their sheep kept at the farm of their neighbor and friend, "Uncle" Bill Brennan. Mulholland, who loved Uncle Bill's farm, told Brennan, "I'm going to buy this from you someday." So, in 2009 when Brennan, unable to continue living alone at the house in rural Viola Township, called Mulholland — then 24 — and told him he'd sell Mulholland the house, the two men came to an agreement, part of which consisted of Brennan extracting a promise from his young friend that he never sell the place. "What I did from '09 to now, Bill would be proud of," Mulholland said. He tore down old out buildings, renovated the main house and added a large pole barn as a garage and for storage. Each morning he wakes up, Mulholland said, to beautiful sunrises, and each night he's treated to beautiful sunsets. Now 40, Mulholland isn't sure he can keep that promise he made to Uncle Bill. "I'll be surrounded on all four sides," Mulholland said. That is if Ranger Power, a Chicago-based renewable energy company, makes good on its plans to build a 1,800-acre solar farm that would cover farmland in Haverhill and Viola townships, northeast of Rochester in Olmsted County. The project, dubbed Lemon Hill Solar, would cover 1,800 acres daisy-chained across Viola and Haverhill townships in eastern Olmsted County. The solar farm would have a capacity, said Sergio Trevino, vice president of Ranger Power LLC, of 180 megawatts. This is not the company's first venture into utility-scale solar projects. And this project rivals the largest in Southeast Minnesota. Trevino said Ranger Power has developed several operational solar projects throughout the Midwest, and several other projects are in development, listing existing projects in Michigan and Illinois. This project, if completed, would be second in capacity — but larger in land area coverage — to the Byron Solar project that is slated to begin construction sometime this year. That project, located mainly in Canisteo Township in Dodge County, will cover nearly 1,500 acres with a capacity of 200 megawatts. The Byron Solar project is being developed by EDF Renewables. Trevino said about 14 landowners have voluntarily agreed to participate in the project. He cited proximity to transmission lines as one of the factors in choosing the location. "The project will be designed to minimize impacts," Trevino said, adding that state and federal environmental requirements as well as water flow concerns will be addressed. "The Minnesota Department of Commerce's Energy Environmental Review and Analysis (EERA) office will conduct a detailed review of all project impacts. The project will also obtain required local permits not covered by the Department of Commerce Site Permit, such as driveway and stormwater permits." He said solar panels have a long history of safe usage in the United States, and that Lemon Hill Solar would include "vegetative cover planted for the solar project (that) will produce nutrient-dense topsoil and help increase biodiversity throughout the project area, the project will use little to no water during operation, and the project will not produce harmful air or water pollution." A letter from Ranger Power adds that the project will add $33 million in new tax revenue over the potential 40-year lifespan of the project. That equals about $825,000 in taxes a year split between state, county, township and local school districts. The project will be presented to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) later this summer, Trevino said, with the hope of beginning construction in 2027 and becoming operational in 2028. Not everyone is buying Ranger Power's claims of a safe and tranquil solar farm in their backyards. At a May 2 meeting organized by Mulholland's mother, Joni Mulholland, at the Viola Town Hall, dozens of people — among a crowd of nearly 80 — spoke against the project. Bill Smith, who has lived in Haverhill Township for 39 years, talked about how when he wanted to build hog barns on his land, he needed to go through several public hearings in the township. The same was true when he wanted to build a modular home on his property. Mullholland said when he built his pole barn garage at his property, there were multiple meetings at the township and county level before the permit was approved. "I hear, 'It's my property, I can do what I want with it.'" Smith said, referring to the response he hears from people who have joined the project. "Can I cover my property with storage units? How can this be on ag-zoned land?" Smith asked the crowd — which included state Sen. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, and state Rep. Steve Jacob, R-Altura — if there was a way to change the zoning laws to have more local control. That, Drazkowski said, is exactly what he tried to do with an amendment to the Omnibus, Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate bill, adding language saying, "A county may adopt, by ordinance, standards for large wind energy conversion systems and solar energy generating systems that are more stringent than standards in commission rules or in the commission's permit standards." The amendment went on to add that the PUC "shall consider and apply those more stringent standards, unless the commission finds good cause not to apply the standards." That amendment was voted down on May 12 along party lines with one Republican joining the DFL. Jacob said the DFL's rush to approve solar projects is tied to the state's goal to be 100% wind- and solar-powered by 2040. Any amendments in the Legislature offered by Republicans — allowing for local regulations and input, forbidding purchase of components from places where child or slave labor is used — were all voted down on party lines. Smith — echoing Drazkowski — noted that all other land-use decisions are handled at the county and township level. Only solar farms are approved without county or township permits needed. "Property rights are a good foundational freedom," Drazkowski said. "I support that very very much. But property rights only extend as far as you interfere in someone else's property." Mulholland said while he thinks solar power can be a vital part of energy production, Ranger Power and his neighbors are boxing him in, meaning his property rights are, indeed, being interfered with. He listed off a litany of interference. During construction, he and his neighbors will have to listen to nonstop pounding as thousands of solar panel supports are driven into the ground. Traffic during construction will tie up the rural roads of the townships, particularly Viola Road/Olmsted County Road 2. Then there's the damage to the topsoil of productive agricultural land. Leveling of land for a substation and for fields of solar panels could lead to soil erosion and an inability to re-convert the land for agricultural uses due to a loss of topsoil and potential leeching of hazardous chemicals from the solar panels over time, Smith said. The project would mean the loss of field waterways, tile lines and topsoil. Mulholland pointed out that the double-substation for the project — according to the current map from Ranger Power — would be built just a stone's throw from his home. He'd like to see the substation built at least a half-mile from his home. But that is only part of the problem. The land where he lives — and neighboring land, which would be covered with solar panels — is the headwaters of the Whitewater River, a certified trout stream that also leads directly into the Mississippi River. If he were to break his promise to Uncle Bill and sell the property — something he hopes not to have to do — Mulholland wonders just how much he would get for his investment. He speculated that property values, especially with him being surrounded on all sides by solar infrastructure, would drop 30% or more. At the May 2 meeting, Smith asked the crowd, "Who here would like to buy a house next to a solar farm? Probably no one." A show of hands indicated he was correct. Jennifer Lawver, who lives on Viola Road, said if the project is approved, she'll immediately put her property up for sale at a 10% discount to try to move before the solar panels go up. And while the developer has found willing landowners to participate, Mulholland said only one of the 14 who has signed on has a home within sight of where solar panels will go up. For some, he said, the money being offered is too good. But Mulholland worries about his quality of life if he stays with the substation just yards away, humming behind tall fences. "I won't have any wildlife access," he said. "My 5 acres will never have deer on it again."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DESRI and Ranger Power close finance and commence 290MW solar projects
D E Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), a contracted renewable energy assets operator, together with utility-scale clean power development company Ranger Power, has secured financial closure and initiated construction on two 290 megawatts alternating current solar projects in the US state of Michigan: the 150MW Heartwood solar facility in Hillsdale County and the140MW White Tail solar project in Washtenaw County. A consortium of lenders has provided the construction financing for both solar facilities, with Fifth Third Bank and Zions Bancorporation acting as the coordinating lead arrangers. The joint lead arrangers were Bank of America, Commerzbank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank New York. The Heartwood facility will employ more than 300 individuals at the peak of its construction phase and will begin commercial operations in 2026. It has entered a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Consumers Energy. The White Tail solar project has secured PPAs with the Lansing Board of Water and Light and the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA). It is expected to come online before the end of 2025. DESRI chief commercial officer Thomas de Swardt stated: "Heartwood and White Tail mark DESRI's 11th and 12th projects in Michigan, where we have been building since 2019 through our partnership with Ranger Power. "We deeply appreciate the support of our customers at Consumers Energy, Lansing Board of Water and Light and Michigan Public Power Agency, who continue to prioritise cost-effective, in-state generation that can deliver to the grid quickly, enabling new load and economic growth within the state." Primoris Services Corporation's renewable energy division has been appointed as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the solar arrays. The Consulting Engineers Group (CEG) will undertake EPC responsibilities for high-voltage components. Ranger Power co-founder and president Paul Harris stated: "These projects, which will provide in excess of $62m in property tax payments throughout their lives, will generate low-cost, reliable and domestic energy supporting farming and economic development throughout the region. 'As neighbours, we will continue to look for ways to support the communities our projects call home. We have and will continue to invest in local causes like our contributions to the Hillsdale Community Foundation and partnership to secure an additional $732,950 for Augusta and York townships through Michigan's Renewable Ready Communities Fund." In August 2024, DESRI, in partnership with El Paso Electric, commenced the construction of the 130MWac Carne solar and storage project in Deming, New Mexico, US.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Permit decision for large solar project in Minnesota's Renville County likely by summer's end
Apr. 8---- A decision is expected before summer's end on whether to permit a large solar farm proposed in . 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.
