Powder River Energy Corporation Public Notice
Pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and the Wyoming Public Service Commission’s (Commission) Rules and Regulations, notice is hereby given of the Application of Powder River Energy Corporation, Sundance, Wyoming (PRECorp or the Cooperative) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to site, design, construct, operate and maintain a 69 kV high voltage distribution (HVD) power line and distribution substation, as more fully described below:
1. PRECorp is non-profit cooperative electric utility subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction. Wyo. Stat. §§ 37-1-101(a)(vi)(C) and 37-2-112. PRECorp is a member of the Members 1st Power Cooperative which is a member of Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin) through which PRECorp purchases all power requirements. PRECorp is authorized to generate, manufacture, purchase, acquire, transmit, and dispose of electric energy in its service territory.
2. On April 25, 2024, the Company filed an Application together with exhibits and attachments requesting authority to construct a three-phase, 8.8 mile, 69kV HVD power line (the Project), and requesting the Commission grant a situs Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). PRECorp states the Project is to accommodate increased load from a pipeline pump station in southeast Crook County, and to support PRECorp’s distribution system in Crook and Weston County. The Project will replace existing distribution line infrastructure for the majority of the route.
3. Specifically, the Project will include a 69 kV monopole HVD power line with a 25 kV distribution circuit under built, and a 69:25 kV distribution substation. The Project will originate from the Bill Durfee Substation, located adjacent to Mason Creek Rd, and end at the Inyan Kara distribution substation, located west of Wyoming State Highway 585.
4. The Cooperative estimates the cost of the Project will be $11.36 million. ONEOK Bakken NGL Pipeline, LLC and ONEOK Elk Creek Pipeline, LLC (collectively ONEOK) will pay for the entire cost of this project with contribution in aid to construction, and has executed a project development agreement with PRECorp. The Cooperative anticipates construction will begin in the third quarter of 2024 with the Project fully in service by early 2025.
5. This is not a complete description of the Application. Interested persons may inspect it at the Commission’s office in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Application may also be viewed online at: https://dms.wyo.gov/external/publicusers.aspx (Enter Record No. 17560).
6. Anyone desiring to file a statement, intervention petition, protest or request for a public hearing in this matter must do so in writing on or before June 7, 2024. Petitions shall set forth the grounds of the proposed intervention or request for hearing as well as the position and the interest of the petitioner in this proceeding. Please mention Docket No. 10014-235-CN-24 in all communications.
7. If you wish to participate in this matter and you require reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Commission at (307) 777-7427 or write to the Commission, 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002. Communications-impaired persons may contact the Commission through Wyoming Relay at 711.
Dated: May 8, 2024.
(Publish May 16 and 23, 2024)