The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has approved the construction permit for Sweetland Wind Farm near Miller.
Sweetland will be a wind energy facility capable of producing approximately 200 megawatts of energy. The company expects to complete the $240 million facility and begin operations by Dec. 31, 2020. However, Sweetland won’t start construction until it finds a buyer for the electricity generated by the wind farm.
The Sweetland Wind Farm project will span an almost 21-thousand (20,979) acre area in Hand County and include up to 71 wind turbines. The commission also approved 45 conditions for the permit including aircraft detection lighting, avian and bat mortality, land restoration, decommissioning, noise level and shadow flicker.
PUC Vice Chairman Chris Nelson says the applicant was willing to work directly with a concerned intervenor to resolve issues as opposed to going through a hearing process. Both the company and intervenor Theresa Lichty should be commended for their participation and willingness to work together. A specific setback requirement for Lichty’s land was established through negotiations between Lichty and the company.
Other components of the project will include a 5-mile, 230-kV generation tie-in transmission facility, access roads, an operations and maintenance facility, up to four meteorological towers, underground 34.5-kV electrical collector lines, underground fiber optic cable, a collection substation, a switchyard and additional temporary construction areas.
Sweetland Wind Farm filed its application with the PUC on March 6, 2019. At the time, state law required the commission to make a decision within six months of receiving a wind energy facility application. A public input meeting was held in Miller in April. Parties to the docket included Sweetland, PUC staff and Intervenor Theresa Lichty. On July 11, 2019, a settlement agreement between the applicant and Lichty was approved by the commission and the terms of that agreement were incorporated in the conditions of the permit.
The Sweetland Wind Farm docket can be viewed on the PUC’s website at www.puc.sd.gov, Commission Actions, Electric Dockets, 2019 Electric Dockets, EL19-012 – In the Matter of the Application by Sweetland Wind Farm, LLC for Facility Permits for a Wind Energy Facility and a 230-kV Transmission Facility in Hand County, South Dakota for the Sweetland Wind Farm Project.
