HomeMy WebLinkAbout20240026.tiffDepartment of Energy
Western Area Power Administration
Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region
P.O. Box 3700
Loveland, CO 80539-3003
Dear Customers and Interested Parties:
RECEIVED
DEC 19 2024
WELD COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
This letter is to notify you that the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) has released a draft
environmental assessment (EA). for the interconnection of the proposed Janus Solar Project (Project) and
to request your input on the Project. Janus Solar LLC (Janus Solar) has applied to interconnect the Project
to WAPA's future Sand Creek Switching Station adjacent to the Project Area, under the WAPA Large
Generator Interconnection Process. In accordance with its Open Access Transmission Service Tariff,
WAPA's consideration to grant an interconnection request is a major federal action subject to
environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the
Department of Energy and Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations. Under
these regulations, the Janus Solar Project is considered a connected action to WAPA's federal decision of
granting an interconnection to its transmission system. The Project would include an up to 80 -megawatt
(MW) nameplate capacity solar photovoltaic facility and a 20 -MW battery energy storage system (BESS).
On site facilities would include:
• An on -site substation
• Photovoltaic panels
• Inverters
• Perimeter fencing
• Access roads
• Supervisory control and data acquisition system
• New overhead 115 -kilovolt (kV) generation -tie transmission line up to 0.6 -miles long proposed to
interconnect WAPA's future adjacent Sand Creek Switching Station (contained within the solar
project footprint).
Additionally, to accommodate the Project interconnection, upgrades will also need to be completed to
15.4 miles of WAPA's existing Prospect Valley-Willoby 115 -kV transmission line. The Project would be
located on private land approximately eight miles southeast of Keenesburg in Weld County, Colorado
(Figure 1).
The 30 -day public comment period begins with the publication of the draft EA on December 18`t~, 2024
on WAPA's Janus Solar Project EA webpage (https://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/rm/rm-
environmentljanus-solar/) and ends January 19th, 2025. During the public comment period, the public,
interested parties, and agencies are invited to provide comments in writing (email preferred) and ask
questions about the draft EA. All comments will be fully considered as the draft EA is revised and will be
preserved in the Administrative Record.
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12/23/2H
a.029- 0026
PL -2912-5
Comments or questions may be submitted in the following ways:
• By mail to:
Western Area Power Administration
Attn: Mr. Mark Suchy
5555 E Crossroads Boulevard
Loveland, CO 80538
• By email to: suchy@wapa.gov
Sincerely,
MARK Digitally signed by MARK
SUCHY
SUCHY ses os-0i00'
Mark Suchy
NEPA Coordinator
Janus Solar Project
Weld County, CO
W}. *
Cheyenne _
Figure 1. Project location overview.
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Solar Project Area
Sand Creek Switching Station
Existing Transmission Lines IIIII Line Upgrade Area
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kn, Coordinate System NAD 1983 UTM Zone 13N
Date: 8!22'2024 Aulmr: C Coleman
WEST
Mariah Higgins
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Follow Up Flag:
Flag Status:
Samantha Brown
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 3:00 PM
CTB
Sharon Benson; Curtis Hall
Agenda Item Communications
Agenda Item Communications.pdf
Follow up
Flagged
Good afternoon,
Please include the following attachment to the next available agenda on behalf of Communications.
Let me know if you have any questions and thank you for your help.
Samantha J Brown
Systems & Process Specialist
Public Works Department
1111 H Street, PO Box 758
Greeley CO 80631
970-400-3763
Confidentiality Notice: This electronic transmission and any attached documents or other writings are intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed
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of this communication or any attachments by anyone other than the named recipient is strictly prohibited.
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Department of Energy
Western Area Power Administration
Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region
P.O. Box 3700
Loveland, CO 80539-3003
December 1, 2023
Dear Customers and Interested Parties:
This letter is to notify you that Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) intends to perform
an environmental analysis of the proposed Janus Solar Project (Project) and to request your input
on the Project. Janus Solar LLC has applied to interconnect the Project to WAPA's future Sand
Creek Switching Station adjacent to the Project Area, under the WAPA Large Generator
Interconnection Process. In accordance with its Open Access Transmission Service Tariff
(Tariff), WAPA's consideration to grant an interconnection request is a major Federal action
subject to environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), the Department of Energy, and Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing
regulations. Under these regulations, Janus Solar LLC Project is considered a connected action
to WAPA's Federal decision of granting an interconnection to its transmission system.
The Project would include up to 80 -megawatt (MW) nameplate capacity solar photovoltaic
facility and 20 -MW of battery energy storage system (BESS), an on -site substation, ancillary
facilities including inverters, perimeter fencing, roads, and a supervisory control and data
acquisition system, and a new 200 -foot overhead generation -tie transmission line proposed to
interconnect with WAPA's future adjacent Sand Creek Switching Station. To accommodate the
Project interconnection, upgrades will also need to be completed to 15.4 miles of WAPA's
existing Prospect Valley-Willoby 115 -kV transmission line. The Project would be located on
private land approximately 8 miles southeast of Keenesburg in Weld County, Colorado (see
enclosed map).
WAPA will provide Federal oversight of the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA)
under the NEPA. The EA will evaluate the environmental effects of the proposed Project on
resources such as air quality, cultural, farmland, livestock grazing, and wildlife resources as well
as other social, economic, and environmental effects.
WAPA is announcing a public scoping period for the Project. The scoping period provides an
opportunity for the general public, government agencies, and Tribal governments to identify
issues and alternatives that will help WAPA define the scope of the EA.
Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
• By mail to:
Western Area Power Administration
Attn: Mr. Mark Suchy
5555 E Crossroad Boulevard
Loveland, CO 80538
• By email to suchy@wapa.gov
1 of 2
For your input to be considered during preparation of the draft EA, WAPA requests comments
by January 6, 2024. If you have any questions, or need more information about the project,
please contact WAPA using the methods listed above. Thank you for your time and interest in
the project.
Sincerely,
Mark Suchy
NEPA Coordinator
Enclosure
Proposed Project Area Map
2402
WEST
Janus Solar Project
Weld County, CO
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Keenesburg
Proposed Project Area
Krauss
r Existing Transmission Lines
0
2
2
4
4
mi
] km
6
Canton
Weld County
NHD Stream
Interstate Highway
U.S. Highway
State Highway
South piatte River
Proposed Interconnection at
Sand Creek Switching Station
Proposed Upgrades to Prospect
Valley - Willoby 115 -kV Lines
Data Source: World Topo, HIFLD, NHD
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 13N
Date: 11/14/2023 Author: C. Coleman
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