Energy Facility Siting Council To Meet Feb. 23 in Boardman

Contact:
Cliff Voliva, 503-378-3637
Rachel Wray, 503-689-0294

SALEM — A proposed solar facility near Boardman and an already-approved wind farm south of Arlington will be the main topics of discussion at the next Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council meeting on February 23 in Boardman.

The public meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. at Boardman City Hall, 200 City Center Circle.

The main items on the Council’s agenda include:

• Boardman Solar Energy Facility (Morrow, Gilliam counties): The Council will receive an update from Oregon Department of Energy staff on the proposed facility and review the draft Final Order on the Application for Site Certificate. Council will then consider whether to approve or deny the proposed facility. Should EFSC approve the facility and issue a site certificate, the 75-megawatt project would be the largest solar photovoltaic facility in the state.
• Montague Wind Power Facility (Gilliam County): This wind facility was approved by EFSC in 2010 and is currently under construction. The site certificate holder submitted a “change request” to modify two aspects of the facility: adjust the facility’s site boundary to accommodate an access road that was not previously included in the site boundary, and change the transmission line route. The Department reviewed the change request and supporting material, and determined that the changes do not require a site certificate amendment. The Department also agrees that the proposed facility modifications would not cause a significant adverse impact to a resource protected by EFSC standards and would not substantially impair the certificate holder’s ability to comply with site certificate conditions. The Department is referring its determination to Council for concurrence, modification, or rejection.

The full meeting agenda and materials are available on the Oregon Department of Energy website: www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-safety/facilities/Pages/Council-Meetings.aspx.

The next EFSC meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 22-23. To request an interpreter for the hearing impaired or accommodations for persons with disabilities, please contact the department at least 72 hours before the meeting at 1-800-221-8035 or fax 503-373-7806. TTY users should call the Oregon Relay Service at 711.