01.10.19 Legal Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE
 
Pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s (Commission) Rules, the Commission hereby gives notice of the Joint Application of Black Hills Power, Inc., d/b/a Black Hills Energy (BHP) and Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power Company d/b/a Black Hills Energy (CLFP) (collectively the Companies) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct and operate a wind generating facility and related facilities in Laramie County, Wyoming, as more fully described below.
The Companies are public utilities as defined in Wyo. Stat. § 37-1-101(a)(vi)(C),  subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction pursuant to Wyo. Stat. § 37-2-112.  
The Companies filed a Joint Application on December 17, 2018, pursuant to Wyo. Stat. § 37-2-205 and Chapter 3, Section 21 of the Commission’s Rules. The Joint Application seeks a CPCN to construct, own, operate and maintain the proposed 40 MW Corriedale wind energy project (Corriedale or Corriedale Project).
The Corriedale Project will include 16 – 2.5 MW General Electric (or equivalent) wind turbine generators (3 blades and nacelle housing the hub, gearbox and generator); pad-mounted step-up transformer and underground electric cable. CLFP and BHP will each own 50 percent of the Corriedale Project. The Corriedale Project will be designed, constructed, operated and maintained to meet or exceed applicable standards of design and performance under current applicable rules. In addition to the wind turbine generators, the Companies will design, purchase equipment and materials and construct ancillary facilities required by the Corriedale Project. Ancillary facilities will include, but are not limited to a pad-mounted step-up transformer and underground electric cable.
The location of the Corriedale Project and related facilities will be approximately 6 miles west of Cheyenne in Laramie County, Wyoming off Interstate-80. The entire Corriedale Project will be located on approximately 5,000 acres of private land and the Companies are negotiating a lease agreement with the landowner for use of the property for a minimum of 25 years. The interconnection of Corriedale to the CLFP system will be at the West Cheyenne Substation. The Companies anticipate the Corriedale Project to be in service by September 30, 2020.
The Application states the Corriedale Project is designed to serve subscribers under BHP’s and CLFP’s proposed Renewable Ready Service Tariffs pending before the Commission and the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. The Renewable Ready Service Tariffs were designed by the Companies to serve commercial retail customers with an average aggregate usage of 300,000 kWh or more per year and governmental accounts desiring renewable energy. The Renewable Ready Service Tariffs will allow eligible customers to subscribe to a share of the energy generated by the Corriedale Project. Subscribers will see a Renewable Ready Charge (related to the cost of the Corriedale Project and a Renewable Ready Credit (related to the reduction of the cost of energy to serve the subscriber). According to the Companies, at the time of the filing of the Joint Application, BHP had commitments for approximately 67% of its 20 MW share of the Corriedale Project and CLFP has commitments for approximately 19% of its 20 MW share of the Corriedale Project. Both utilities continue to engage customers and expect a fully subscribed program prior to the Corriedale Project commercial operation date.
The Companies propose to charge separate rates specific to the Corriedale Project. The rates proposed are detailed in the Renewable Ready Service Tariffs docket pending before the Commission. The cost of the Corriedale Project, proportional to the ownership interest held, will be included in the next general rate reviews filed by CLFP and BHP. The costs of construction and related expenses are expected to be approximately $57 million and yearly operation and maintenance costs split equally between BHP and CLFP. Financing for construction of the project will be through the use of internally generated funds.
This is not a complete description of the Joint Application. The Joint Application is on file at CLFP’s and BHP’s business offices and at the Commission’s office in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and may be inspected there by any interested person during regular business hours.
Anyone desiring to intervene and become a party to this proceeding or to file a statement, comment, protest, or request a hearing in this matter, must file the same with the Commission in writing on or before February 1, 2019. The petition shall set forth the grounds of the proposed intervention or request for hearing and the position and interest of the petitioner.
For further information, or if you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, call the Commission at (307) 777-7427, or write the Commission at 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002. Communications impaired persons may also contact the Commission through Wyoming Relay at 711. Please mention Docket Nos. 20003-178-EN-18 and 20002-111-EN-18 (Record No. 15171) when you contact the Commission.
Dated: January 3, 2019.
 
(Publish January 10 and 17, 2019)