EIGHT- Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 16, 2021
PUBLIC NOTICE
Figure 1: Proposed Facility Site Boundary
PUBLIC NOTICE
Amended Notice of Intent for Wagon Trail Solar Project
Summary:
Date Issued: June 16, 2021
Amended Proposal: Up to 500 megawatt (MW)
photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation facility
within an approximately 7,339 acre (11.47 sq. miles)
site boundary on privately-owned land zoned for
Exclusive Farm Use. The original proposal included an
approximately 5,957 acres (9.3 sq. miles) site
boundary.
Location: Morrow County, approximately 24 miles
southeast of the City of Arlington.
Public Comment Deadline: July 8, 2021
Introduction: The Oregon Department of Energy
(Department), staff to the Energy Facility Siting
Council (EFSC), previously received a Notice of Intent
(NOI) on November 3, 2020 from Wheatridge East
Wind, LLC (applicant), a wholly owned subsidiary of
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, that it intends to
submit a preliminary application for site certificate
(pASC) to construct and operate the Wagon Trail Solar
Project, a proposed PV solar energy generation
facility. Due to modifications of the proposed facility,
the applicant submitted an amended NOI on June 11,
2021. The applicant expects to submit the pASC in July
or August, 2021. The proposed facility would occupy
approximately 5,000 acres of arable and nonarable
lands, which constitutes a State jurisdictional energy
facility under ORS 469.300(11)(D)(ii) and (iii), requiring
that the applicant obtain a site certificate from EFSC
prior to construction and operation. The Department
is accepting public comments on the Amended NOI
from June 16, 2021 through July 8, 2021.
Proposed Facility Description: The Wagon Trail Solar
Project (proposed facility) would have a generating
capacity of up to 500 MW using solar PV technology.
The proposed facility site boundary includes
approximately 7,339 acres.
The proposed facility consists of PV solar
panels/modules, steel tracker tables and posts,
cabling, power conversion stations, and related or
supporting facilities. Proposed related or supporting
facilities include distributed battery storage (lithium-
ion); up to four collector substations on 5- to 10-acre
sites, each; up to 8-mile 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission
line on H-frame structures extending up to 150 feet in
height; an Operations and Maintenance building; up
to three meteorological towers; site access, service
roads, perimeter fencing, and gates; and, up to four
temporary construction areas.
Additional detailed information is available in the
amended NOI Exhibit B (see hyperlink to Department’s
project webpage in More Information below).
Proposed Facility Location: The proposed facility
would be located south of I-84 in Morrow County. A
map of the proposed facility site boundary is attached
to this notice. More maps are available in Attachment
2 of the amended NOI, and the Department maintains
an online mapping program where the proposed
facility site and regional location can be viewed via
hyperlink:
https://arcg.is/1Gf8CK
EFSC Review Process: The review of an application for
site certificate (ASC) is a consolidated, comprehensive
process where the Department requests comments
from state and local agencies, tribal governments and
the general public throughout the process, and
concurrently reviews other permits necessary for the
proposed facility. The applicant must demonstrate
that the proposed facility meets EFSC standards
established under Oregon Revised Statute (ORS)
469.501 and set forth in Oregon Administrative Rule
(OAR) Chapters 345, divisions 22 and 24, as well as all
other applicable Oregon statutes, rules, and
standards. The Department serves as staff to EFSC and
conducts the ASC review process.
Pursuant to ORS 469.504(4), an applicant must elect
to demonstrate compliance with the statewide
planning goals by either obtaining local land use
approval from the affected local government(s) or
through EFSC’s determination of compliance. At this
time, Wheatridge East Wind, LLC intends to satisfy the
Council’s Land Use standard (OAR 345-022-0030)
PUBLIC NOTICE: Oregon Department of Energy, Wagon Trail Solar Project Amended Notice of Intent
June 16, 2021
which includes compliance with Morrow County land
use standards, by seeking an EFSC determination
under ORS 469.504(1)(b). Morrow County Board of
Commissioners is the Special Advisory Group for the
EFSC review.
Public Participation: There are several opportunities
for public participation and comment during the EFSC
process. The first is the public comment period on the
NOI, which is currently open. The Department and
applicant held a teleconference public informational
meeting on Thursday, January 7, 2021. Informational
meetings provide an opportunity for the public to
provide comments and ask questions about the
proposed facility and review process.
After the application is determined to be complete the
Department will issue notice of another public
informational meeting. Then at the issuance the
Department’s draft proposed order, notice will be
provided about a public hearing and comment period
that will provide an opportunity for the public to
provide in-person and remote oral and written
testimony on the application and draft proposed order
for the proposed facility.
The purpose of amended NOI and ASC informational
meetings is for the Department and applicant to
provide information about the proposed facility and
EFSC review process to the general public, which differs
from a public hearing, where the purpose is to provide
the general public an opportunity to provide oral
comments to EFSC and a Hearing Officer on the ASC and
DPO. The Department will provide notice of all future
public informational meetings and hearings.
Notice of Intent: The amended NOI provides notice to
the Department and the public that the applicant
intends to submit an ASC in the future. The amended
NOI contains preliminary information about the
proposed facility and provides an opportunity for the
public, state and local governments and Tribal
governments to comment on the amended NOI.
Page 1
Comments on the amended NOI are due by July 8,
2021, and must be submitted in writing by U.S. mail,
e-mail, or by fax. Please send comments to:
Chase McVeigh-Walker, Senior Siting Analyst
Oregon Department of Energy
550 Capitol Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: (503) 934-1582
Email: chase.mcveigh-walker@oregon.gov
Please Note: The submission of comments does not
automatically register your contact information to
receive notices. If you would like to receive notices for
this proposed facility or any other EFSC project, and
have not already done so, please follow the
instructions on the next page.
2) Updates by Email/Mail:
Subscribe to ClickDimensions for email updates on
the proposed facility or other energy facilities
under EFSC jurisdiction. ClickDimensions is an
automated email system that allows interested
members of the public to manage subscriptions to
information received about Department projects
and events. For more information, please visit:
https://tinyurl.com/ODOE-EFSC.
To receive notices by U.S. Mail, please contact
Chase McVeigh-Walker and request to be added
to the paper notice list.
3) In Hardcopy:
Hard copies of the amended NOI are available for
public inspection at the following location at no
cost. Hard copies will be provided at reasonable
cost upon request to the Department.
Oregon Department of Energy
550 Capitol Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
Please contact the Department to arrange viewing
of hard copies of the amended NOI.
Accessibility information:
The Oregon Department of Energy is committed to
accommodating people with disabilities. If you require
any special physical or language accommodations, or
need information in an alternate format, please
contact Dawnita Bruce at 503-428-7905, toll-free in
Oregon at 800-221-8035, or email to
Dawnita.M.BRUCE@oregon.gov .
Published June 16, 2021 Affidavit
Ione holds Cardinal cleanup day
Receipt of this Notice:
You are receiving this notice because:
1) You own property within or adjacent to (within
500 feet) the property on which the proposed
facility would be located. You will automatically
receive all future EFSC notices for this facility if the
site boundary remains the same.
2) You have previously signed up via ClickDimensions
to receive notices on this facility, or all EFSC
facilities. You will automatically receive all future
email notices per your request, unless you
unsubscribe via ClickDimensions or by contacting
the Department.
More Information:
More information about the proposed facility and the
review process are available using any of the following
options. If you need more information, please contact
Chase McVeigh-Walker.
1) Oregon Department of Energy’s webpage:
More details on the Wagon Trail Solar Project,
including the amended NOI, are available online
at: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-
safety/facilities/Pages/WTS.aspx
Comment Period and Informational Meeting: Public
comments on the amended NOI are encouraged to
help the applicant identify issues and concerns early in
the process.
Resources describing the State Siting Process,
including “Oregonians Guide to Siting and
Oversight of Energy Facilities” are available at:
https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-
safety/facilities/Pages/default.aspx
Willow Creek Water Park 2021
Summer of Fun!
CHANGE: Pool Opens Monday, June 21st 1-7 pm
Heppner Elementary School students, Heppner Jr./Sr. High School students, MCSD
Homeschool students and incoming Kindergartners can sign up for a FREE pool
pass for this summer. Family passes are still available at a discounted rate. These
same students also get a FREE goodie bag – everything you need for a fun summer
at the pool!
Call us if you want a jumpstart to signing up for passes, swim lessons and/or
getting your goodie bag!.
541-676-5752
Many volunteers came out to help with the Cardinal cleanup day in Ione May 27.
On May 27, 2021, the
City of Ione and the Ione
Community Charter School
joined forces to hold their
first joint Cardinal Clean-
up Day. The city partnered
with the school to tackle
the cleanup of the school’s
grounds and common areas
of Ione in time for summer
activities.
The city of Ione, the
Ione Charter School ASB
Officers, Mrs. Cydney
McElligott and Mr. Rollie
Marshall diligently worked
together to organize and
make the event success-
ful. The participants were
supplied with T-shirts and
bottles of water that were
donated by the local busi-
nesses. The city supplied
the dumpsters, garbage
bags and gloves and the
students (K-12), faculty
and staff provided the man-
power. By the end of the
morning, they had filled
two large dumpsters with
garbage, yard debris and
other miscellaneous items.
The school offered the par-
ticipants a barbeque lunch
at the end of the event.
The city of Ione will
sponsor a second cleanup
day for the citizens for yard
debris and other litter. Haz-
ardous materials will not
be accepted. The city will
provide dumpsters that will
be located at city hall and
the city maintenance shop.
The dates for this cleanup
will be June 18 to 29, 2021.
Please join us at Cutsforth park Sunday June 20th at 1PM
for the annual Elks Father's Day picnic.
Some of the events scheduled are;
Kids treasure hunt, egg toss & water Balloons
The Annual Kenny Turner Memorial Horseshoe Tournament
Beverages, Hamburgers and Hotdogs will be provided.
Side dishes are welcomed.
Open to all Elks members and their families.
HEPPNER ELKS 358
"WHERE FRIENDS MEET"
541-676-9181 142 N MAIN ST
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