Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-20 Decommissioning Plan[Type text] [Type text] [Type text] 1 Exhibit D: Preliminary Decommissioning Plan May 2020 Bartonsville Energy Facility d 2 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 2. DECOMMISSIONING OF SOLAR FACILITY EQUIPMENT DISMANTLING AND REMOVAL SITE RESTORATION MANAGING EXCESS MATERIALS AND WASTE 3. PROVISION OF DECOMMISSIONING COST ESTIMATE 4. PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SECURITY d 3 1. Introduction Article 6 of Chapter 22 of the Code of Virginia (§ 15.2 -2241.2) requires that the owner, lessee, or developer of real property for a solar project enter into a written agreement to decommission the project prior to the approval of the Site Plan. Bartonsvil le Energy Facility, LLC (“the Owner”) submits this Decommissioning Plan (the “Plan”) to provide clarity on the methods and process of decommissioning the Bartonsville Energy Facility (“the Project”). The Plan shall be finalized prior to the approval of the Site Plan and shall be binding on each successor and assignee of the Owner. The Project is planned on parcels that total 957 acres, with a maximum of 595 disturbed acres. The majority of the site is located in the Back Creek Magisterial District in Frederick County and a portion is in the Opequon Magisterial District in Stephens City. The Project will interconnect to the FirstEnergy 138kV Bartonsville-Meadowbrook transmission line. The Project is expected to operate for a minimum of 30 years, based on th e useful life of the equipment and the warrantees that guarantee that equipment. The Plan describes the approach for removal of the Project and land restoration activities. These measures shall be taken upon the end of the useful life of the Project, or if the Project or any portion thereof ceases to perform its intended function for more than twelve (12) consecutive months. 2. Decommissioning of Solar Facility The Owner shall arrange for and be responsible for the decommissioning of the Project, including the following: Equipment Dismantling and Removal Many of the Project’s components are largely composed of recyclable materials, including glass semiconductor material, steel, and wiring. When the project reaches the end of its operational life, reusable and recyclable parts will be dismantled, removed from the site, and transported to reuse or recycling facilities. All waste resulting from the decommissioning of the facility will be transported by a certified and licensed contractor and taken to a landfill facility. Above-ground Structure Decommissioning Solar Panel Arrays and Project Substation: ▪ De-energize and disconnect the Project from the utility power grid; ▪ Disconnect all above ground wirings, cables, fuses and electrical and protection components and reuse or recycle off‐site by an approved facility; ▪ Remove concrete foundations of inverter and transformer pads ▪ Remove PV modules and metallic structures and ship to reuse or recycling facilities for aftermarket use or recycling and material reuse; d 4 ▪ Remove all waste; ▪ Remove the perimeter fence and recycle off‐site by an approved metal recycler. ▪ Remove inverters, transformers, meters, fans, lighting fixture and other electrical components and recycle off‐site by an approved recycler; Access Roads: ▪ Consult with landowner (if applicable) to determine if any access roads should be left in place for their continued use. ▪ If access road is deemed unnecessary, remove access road, and restore access road location as practicable to its previous condition with native soils and seeding. Below-ground Structure Decommissioning ▪ Disconnect all underground cables and transmission lines and remove and recycle off‐site by an approved recycling facility; ▪ Remove all PV panel racking below and above ground, including the steel pile foundations This Plan is based on current best industry practices and procedures. These practices may be subject to revision based on the development of new and improved decommissioning practices in the future. Site Restoration The Owner will develop a comprehensive restoration plan designed to restore the site so it can be returned to its previous use. Restoration will include the following: ▪ Redistribution of topsoil, if necessary, to provide similar ground cover as was present prior to the site disturbance. ▪ De-compacting of access roads and other areas where soils have been compacted. Where Project infrastructure has been removed, disturbed areas will be seeded with a quick growing native species to prevent topsoil erosion. Erosion and control measures will be installed at ditches and will be left in place until ground cover is fully established. Watercourses Within the project location there are no water bodies (i.e., permanent watercourses, intermittent watercourses, seepage areas or lakes). As no water bodies are present and the renewable energy facility does not release emissions which could pollute the air and water bodies, no impact to aquatic environment is expected. As a result, no restoration of water bodies, either during construction or decommissioning is planned. d 5 Agricultural Lands Once all Project facilities are removed, agricultural and silvicultural lands compacted during project operation (such as access roads) will be de-compacted via tilling, plowing or subsoiling and affected areas will be seeded with native grass species. Similar to the construction phase, soil erosion and sedimentation control measures will be re implemented during the decommissioning period and until the site is stabilized in order to mitigate erosion and silt/sediment runoff. Access roads will be left at landowner's requests or graded to restore terrain profiles (to the extent practicable) and vegetated. If removed, filter fabric will be bundled and disposed of in accordance with all applicable regulations. As necessary, these areas will be backfilled and restored to meet existing grade. This material may come from existing long‐term berm or stockpile. Managing Excess Materials and Waste During the decommissioning phase, waste materials will be removed in accordance with applicable local regulations. It is the goal of the Owner to reuse and recycle materials to the extent practicable and to work with local subcontractors and waste firms to segregate material to be recycled. As an example, it is anticipated that nearly 100% of the above grade metal is salvageable based on current industry practices and trends. Many components of the Project are reusable or recyclable and have salvage value. The Owner will manage decommissioning to minimize, to the extent practicable, the volume of project components and materials discarded as waste. Table 1 below outlines the anticipated disposition methods of the different project components. Table 1 Anticipated Project Decommissioning Disposition Methods Concrete Foundations Crush and recycle Solar Panels Reuse or recycle Metal racks and mounts Salvage/recycle Steel piles and rack foundations Salvage/recycle Wiring and cabling Recycle/salvage Inverters, transformers, and breakers Salvage/recycle/reuse Granular material Reuse/dispose Fence steel Salvage/recycle Project Substation Controls Dispose/reuse d 6 Major pieces of equipment such as transformers and breakers are recyclable and reusable and will have significant market value. The solar panels are expected to retain over 80% of their generation capability after 30 years of operation and the potential for re-use is high. Existing solar panel manufacturers have programs to buy and salvage panels. These programs extract the raw materials in the panels to make new panels at a significant discount from new material costs. Recycled materials include the semiconductor and glass. Other components such as electrical cable have a high salvage-market value due to their copper and aluminum content. The same is true for the steel and aluminum racks and foundations that support the solar panels. 3. Provision of Decommissioning Cost Estimate Prior to site plan approval for installation of the Project, the Owner shall provide a Decommissioning Cost Estimate, as determined by a Virginia Licensed Engineer . The Decommissioning Cost Estimate shall be the gross estimated cost of performing the Decommissioning and associated administrative costs, minus 90% of the estimated resale and salvage value of Project equipment. The Estimate will be updated every fifth (5th) year throughout the life of the project. 4. Provision of Financial Security Pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 22 of the Code of Virginia and County regulation, the Owner shall provide financial security in the form of “certified funds, cash escrow, bond, letter of credit, or parent guarantee” (§ 15.2-2241.2) for removal of the Facility, amounting to the Decommissioning Cost Estimate as determined. Financial security shall be provided prior to the commencement of Commercial Operations. If the Facility is owned by a public utility company or an independent power producer with an investment grade credit rating with Moody’s of Standard and Poor’s, no financial security shall be required.