Integrating Environmental, Engineering and Constructability Considerations in Wind Power Development

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Integrating Environmental, Engineering and
Constructability Considerations in Wind Power
Development

• Anntonette Alberti, JD
• Tetra Tech, Inc.

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Goals of the Presentation

• Provide an overview of the wind generating
  facility development process
• Describe the inter-relation of environmental,
  engineering and constructability data on each
  phase of wind farm development
• Site Screening
• Conceptual Design
• Final Design
• Permitting
• Construction
• Operations and Maintenance
• Stress the importance of designing and permitting
  constructable and economic wind projects

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Overview of the Development Process
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Site Selection/Screening

• Two most basic questions
• Is the site windy?
• Is the site near adequate take away
  transmission?
• If you pass the basic questions then
• Investigate availability of land
• Investigate public and local government
  acceptability
• Investigate environmental and engineering
  considerations
• Critical Issues Analysis
• Regulatory Strategy

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Critical Issues Analysis

• Critical Issues Analysis is a study that
• Identifies conditions at the proposed project
  site
• Identifies likely siting issues
• Projects impacts on schedule/budget
• Provides management strategies to reduce impacts
  on schedule/budget
• Components include
• Phase I - Desktop studies - Available a la carte
  (Biological, Cultural, Aesthetics, Geotechnical,
  Telecommunications, Aviation, Land Use and
  Permitting, etc.)
• Phase II Reconnaissance-level Field Studies
• Critical Issues Analysis Report- Documents key
  issues that warrant special consideration-
  Provides permit matrix, recommendations, and
  schedule

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Common Critical Issues Analysis Omissions

• Aviation Screening
• Telecommunications Screening
• Engineering/Constructability Issues
• Steep slopes
• Unstable geotechnical conditions
• Inadequate work space

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Moving on to the Conceptual Layout

• You now know you have a potential wind site!
• Client should have an idea of the turbine
  technology that should be used in subsequent
  studies
• Move on to the conceptual layout

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What is the Conceptual Layout?

• Initial layout that includes turbine locations,
  access roads, electrical collection system,
  switchyard(s) and substation(s), transmission
  lines, OM building, and construction work areas.
• Necessary for obtaining land rights, performing
  preliminary studies, beginning the regulatory
  process, etc.
• Typically the developer or the meteorological
  firm will take a first cut at the conceptual
  layout of turbines on a constraint map.

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Defining the Conceptual Layout

• Preliminary Selection of Turbine Technology
• Important for turbine spacing
• Important for defining setbacks
• Define Project Constraints
• Wind
• Land
• Setbacks from Homes/Infrastructure
• Engineering/Access
• Environmental
• Cultural
• Political
• Create Conceptual Layout

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Constraints Map
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Typical Setbacks and Constraints

• Setbacks from sensitive buildings such as
  residences, schools, hospitals and churches
• Setbacks from outbuildings such as barns,
  garages, and hunting camps
• Setbacks from roads, trails, and recreational
  areas
• Setbacks from transmission lines, oil and gas
  wells, oil and gas transmission, gathering and
  service lines, sub-surface mining operations and
  other such infrastructure/facilities
• Setbacks from non-participating parcel
  boundaries
• Wetlands, surface waters, and any regulatory
  buffers around them
• Sensitive cultural resources and any regulatory
  boundaries around them
• Locations of special status wildlife or
  vegetation species and/or critical habitat
• Areas of known geotechnical instability
• Fresnel zones and other communication/radar
  related constraints
• Areas impacted by air traffic (both civilian and
  military) and
• Any other environmental and land use constraints
  identified for the site.

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Agricultural Siting Considerations

• Locate structures along field edges where
  possible
• Locate access roads along ridge tops where
  possible to eliminate the need for cut and fill
  and reduce the risk of creating drainage problems
• Avoid dividing larger fields by locating access
  roads along the edge of agricultural fields
• All existing drainage and erosion control
  structures such as diversions, ditches, and tile
  lines shall be avoided or appropriate measures
  taken to maintain the design and effectiveness of
  the existing structures
• Minimize loss production, crop damage and top
  soil

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Engineering Tasks for Conceptual Layout

• Perform desktop study to evaluate subsurface
  conditions and geologic hazards
• Desktop Transportation Analysis
• Initial Road/collection system Layout
• Initial Constructability review

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Moving from the Conceptual Layout to the Final
Layout

• Wind projects have a lot of moving parts wind
  resource, property, landowner preferences,
  setbacks, environmental constraints, cultural
  resources, engineering constraints,
  transportation issues, constructability, etc.
  influence where project facilities will be sited
• There must be communication among team members
  and impact on layout must be understood and
  incorporated
• The best team includes a meteorologist, a land
  man, an environmental scientist, an engineer, a
  constructability expert, and a lawyer
• Data management with multiple team members can be
  a challenge

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What is the Final Horizontal Layout?

• This layout depicts all project facilities for
  permitting and land acquisition purposes
• In many cases, permits must be obtained for
  exactly what will be built, so a certain amount
  of engineering must be done at an early stage
• In a perfect world, micrositing occurs prior to
  submitting major permit applications and
  conducting NEPA (or state equivalent) review
• Failure to do so often means the need to do
  permit modifications, supplemental EISs, and/or
  variances during construction
• In the real world things arent that simple.
• If possible, permit for flexibility

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Studies that Support Final Horizontal Layout

• Field Studies
• Site specific environmental and cultural
  fieldwork
• Site specific engineering field work
• Constructability considerations
• Adjust Horizontal Layout and Review for
• Wind resource
• Constructability
• Engineering
• Environmental/cultural resources
• Land owner acceptability
• Final Horizontal Layout

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Engineering Tasks for Final Layout

• If topo exists, may need to commission a fly-over
  to perform digital photography from which a
  topographic base map can be prepared
• Perform site walkdown of all project facilities
  to assess access feasibility (slope and terrain
  issues, etc.)
• Perform geotechnical investigations needed for
  design of roadway cross-sections, collection
  system routing and wind turbine foundations

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The Timing of Studies

• This is the hardest part of advising a wind
  client
• Provide enough preliminary study for siting, but
  not waste money by providing detailed study on
  facilities that are not in their final location
• If possible, only perform full wetland and
  cultural delineations on the exact locations of
  project facilities when they are in their final
  location
• Consider timing when running visual simulation,
  shadow flicker analysis, writing up noise study,
  etc.
• Because siting is an iterative process, there
  will always be some inefficiency in study

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Transportation Study

• Perform traffic and transportation study, for
  oversized or heavy deliveries, to assess adequacy
  of existing offsite roadways, bridges, crossings
  over culverts, overpasses/underpasses, turning
  radii, utilities, etc.
• Within project boundary, determine whether
  turning radii at existing intersections along the
  delivery route need to be modified
• Assess whether surface replacements or upgrades
  will be required

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Wildlife Studies

• Typically include
• Avian use surveys
• Raptor nesting surveys
• Habitat inventory
• Threatened, endangered, sensitive species focused
  surveys if appropriate
• Bat habitat inventory and/or risk analysis
• State Natural Heritage database/USFWS TE species
  inquiries
• Plant and noxious weed surveys, if appropriate
• Studies will vary geographically and by state

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Wetland Studies

• It often makes sense to start with reconnaissance
  level study, saving complete delineation until
  the layout is final
• All project facilities must be cleared for
  wetlands
• Public road improvements, especially public road
  culvert replacements, are often forgotten
• Good communication between wetland staff and
  design engineers is critical
• Data management is critical
• Keep a change log

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Cultural Resource Studies

• Consult with State Historic Preservation Office
  (SHPO)
• Define the Study Area for Archeology and for
  Historic Architecture
• Define the Area of Potential Effects (in
  consultation with SHPO) as Project is more
  precisely defined
• Archeology
• Historical Architecture

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Transmission Interconnection Studies

• Feasibility Study estimates cost of
  interconnection
• System Reliability Impact Study determines
  cost and equipment for maintaining reliability of
  existing system
• Complete Facility Upgrade Study determines final
  cost of all interconnection and system upgrade
  equipment
• Negotiate Interconnection Agreement with
  transmission utility

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Other Important Studies

• Noise
• Shadow Flicker
• Visual Assessment
• Property Values
• Conduct Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment
  (ASTM AIA Standards)
• Etc.

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Permitting Phase -- Local

• Local
• At most proposed wind energy project sites, one
  or more local approvals will be required.
• The issuing authority may be a local planning
  commission, zoning board, town, city or village
  council, county board of supervisors or
  commissioners, or a similar entity.
• Although some state siting boards are authorized
  to override local objections, most must first
  demonstrate that the proposed project would be
  consistent with local ordinances and that there
  is no reasonable objection to the development of
  the project.

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Permitting Phase -- Local

• Local
• Similar to the state regulatory process, the need
  for local approvals and the process for obtaining
  approvals vary throughout the country.
• In some areas, the local approval process will be
  time-consuming and the project will be subject to
  close scrutiny. In contrast, some
  municipalities require only a building permit.
• The development team should assess which local
  approvals will be required and consult with local
  counsel.

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Permitting Phase -- State

• State
• Numerous state regulatory programs are likely to
  be triggered by a proposed wind energy project.
  While such programs often mirror, implement
  (through delegated authority), or complement
  similar federal laws, the state version is
  typically more stringent than its federal
  counterpart.
• Little NEPA
• State Siting Statutes
• Endangered Species
• Wetland Permits
• Stream Crossing Permits
• Use Authorizations for State Owned Aquatic Land
• Historic Preservation
• Stormwater
• Agricultural Protection
• DOT (Roadway) Permitting

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Permitting Phase -- Federal

• National Environmental Policy Act
• Federal Wetland and Waterbody Laws
• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
  (NPDES) permits for stormwater during
  construction and operation
• Endangered Species Act and other Wildlife
  Protection Laws
• National Historic Preservation Act
• Federal Aviation Administration Clearances
• Federal Land Use Authorizations
• Federal Transmission Line Interconnections

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Final Engineering Design Outline

• Establish Design Team including
• Professional Engineer / (Engineer of Record)
• Develop Design Criteria
• These should capture design requirements for
  permits and plans
• Client should review
• Preliminary (Draft) Design
• Drawings
• Technical Specifications
• Calculations
• Final Design
• PE Sealed
• Issued for Construction

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Design Disciplines

• Design Disciplines Capabilities - Civil
• Site Civil
• Site civil drawing is a base map which is
  topographic survey obtained from client, or TtEC
  commissions a survey to develop the base map
• Usually perform a pre-design constructability
  walkdown of WTG locations and intended access
  road routes to consider site natural features and
  landowner impacts
• Roadway design layout / direction / cross
  section / radii
• Perform stormwater drainage calculations Size
  and locate new culverts and identify soil erosion
  controls (e.g., silt fencing, stone rip-rap,
  etc.)
• Geotextile Use
• Structural
• Foundation Design
• Bridge Improvements

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Design Disciplines

• Design Disciplines Capabilities
• Geotechnical
• May need to perform a geotechnical investigation,
  as a pre-design task, to obtain site specific
  information at WTG locations and some locations
  along access roads
• Detailed geotechnical investigation report serves
  as a basis for access road and WTG foundation
  design
• Field Investigations
• Geotechnical Reports as design input

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Design Disciplines

• Design Disciplines Capabilities
• Electrical
• WTG collector system,
• Substation(s)
• Transmission Line

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Final Engineering Design - PE

• Design requires supervision by licensed civil,
  structural and electrical PEs (if applicable)
• PEs typically need to be licensed in State where
  project is located

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Preconstruction

• Finalize Turbine and Long-Lead-Time Item
  Procurement
• Identify and requisition long lead time purchased
  items, such as wind turbines and transformers
• Approvals for the later plans and permits (Storm
  Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), Spill
  Prevention, Containment and Countermeasure Plan
  (SPCCP) and State DOT and US Army Corps wetlands
  permits)
• Final Construction Plans and Drawings
• Secure Construction Contractor
• Develop Environmental Construction Compliance
  Plan
• Develop Mobilization Plan

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Construction

• Mobilization Make sure you have obtained the
  right pre-construction permissions
• Construction Trailers
• Initial Laydown Areas
• Sediment and Erosion Control
• Safety and Environmental Training
• Send out construction start notifications as
  required in permits

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Construction

• After the Notice to Proceed --
• Clearing and Grading
• Access Roads and Public Road Improvements
• Foundations
• Electrical Collection System
• Transmission Line
• Substation and Interconnection Facilities
• Tower and Turbine Erection
• OM Building/Visitor Kiosks
• Commissioning
• Mitigation Areas
• Reclamation

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Construction

• Engineering support during construction
• Provide home office support of construction
  activities following construction release of
  design drawings, to review contractor submittals
  and administer Field Change Requests (FCRs)
  and/or issue Design Change Notices (DCNs)
• Provide field engineer, preferably from the
  design team, to assist with construction
  activities and ensure compliance with the design

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Tetra Tech, Inc.

• Tetra Tech, Inc. is a leading, U.S.-based
  national and international firm delivering
  solutions in, consulting, construction,
  engineering, remediation and restoration
• Publicly traded company (TTEK)
• Chosen by Smart Money magazine as one of the 10
  Stocks for the Next 10 Years
• Annual revenues in excess of 1.4 billion
  financial strength to stand behind large wind
  energy projects, including EPC BOP
• Over 8,500 employees in 250 offices world-wide
• Consistently ranked in Engineering News Record as
  one of the top ten

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Tetra Tech, Inc.

• Acquisition of The Delaney Group a
  well-respected leader in renewable energy
  construction
• Experienced energy staff in all disciplines
• More than 6 million hours without a lost work day
  over past two years
• Injury rate is ¼ the national average
• 70 National Safety Council awards
• Employee health and safety perception rating in
  top 2 nation-wide
• ISO 14001 Certification for all services
• First major full-service firm to earn
  certification with such broad coverage
• ISO 9001 Certification for Wind Engineering
• Documented quality procedures and systems to meet
  global standards and expectations

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Full-Service Energy Solutions
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Recognized Expertise

• Tetra Tech and Nixon Peabody chosen to write
  American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Wind
  Facility Siting Manual
• Frequent speaker on energy topics at AWEA, World
  Wind Energy Association and other renewable
  energy industry events
• Papers on environmental compliance during
  construction
• Included in New York Energy Research and
  Development Authority (NYSERDA) Wind Energy Tool
  Kit
• Published in North American Windpower Journal
• Through our Energy Management Services Supporting
  Energy Programs at More Than 60 DoD Installations
  World-Wide

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Contact

• Anntonette Alberti, JD
• 518-488-8588
• Anntonette.Alberti_at_tteci.com