We should certainly applaud the PSC's decision to approve a solar project in WV, especially their willingness to approve a project when the record seems so weak. The record implies very few submittals by Tri-State over their application and approval period.
Tri-State still has to submit the Interconnection Agreement with PJM, a report of an approval from US Fish & Wildlife Service, wetlands, historic preservation requirements, and several other documents.
Then of course, they will need the funding and a customer. And they must start construction within 5 years and complete construction within 10, so it is not a done deal yet.
But they have passed a milestone.
JBK.
________________________________ From: Daniel Chiotos daniel.chiotos@gmail.com Sent: Monday, October 31, 2016 4:39:53 PM To: James Kotcon Cc: ec@osenergy.org; Nachy Kanfer; Bridget Lee; Beth Little; glnelson1@frontier.com; Mike Price; Laurie Ardison; Liz Wiles Subject: Re: Tri-State Solar
Hey, I remember them!
The guy from the project that was talked about with a while back just seemed like bad news. I could dig up the message I sent out in 2013 (I think) to people in the Club from my research on them, but I talked with him while I was contracted by the Sierra Club to find out about the project, but never gave any endorsement representing the Club. The guy I talked with did seem like the type who would straight lie about the Club endorsing a project.
On Mon, Oct 31, 2016 at 3:48 PM, James Kotcon <jkotcon@wvu.edumailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu> wrote:
Just an FYI, while doing an interview with a reporter about solar in WV, I looked up the Tri-State Solar case before the PSC. Tri-State had proposed a 5.3 MW solar farm in Greenbriar County (Sam Black Church exit of I-64) on 26 acres. I had been approached by some staffers in January because the developer had represented that Sierra Club supported the project, although we had never heard of it. Based on discussions with people in the area, I had considered whether to file comments, but never did. The word I got was that the developer was more talk than action, and that was one of the kinder things I heard.
The PSC did issue a final order approving the project in August. It appears that the developer had an incomplete application, never did file the remaining required reports, and did not even file reply briefs after the hearing, but agreed to a "settlement" whereby he would file those reports before construction started. The full document is at:
http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/WebDocket/ViewDocument.cfm?CaseActivityID...'
Jim Kotcon
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Cheers, Danny Chiotos 304-886-3389 (c) 304-535-8150 (h) 1603 W Washington St Harpers Ferry, WV 25425