WILD SPRINGS SOLAR

Wild Springs Solar, LLC proposes to construct the Wild Springs Solar Project (Project) in Pennington County, South Dakota.  The Project would encompass nearly 1,000 acres just south of New Underwood, SD.  The Project proposes to interconnect with WAPA’s existing New Underwood Substation.

WAPA’S INVOLVEMENT

If there is available transmission capacity on the federal transmission system, WAPA provides open access to transmission services so that energy producers can transmit power to their customers.  Any entity requesting transmission services must submit an application for interconnection.  For more information about the interconnection process, visit WAPA’s website here​. The federal interconnection process is separate​ from any State, County, or local permitting and approvals that may be required.

​The proposed interconnection of the Project to WAPA’s transmission​ system is a Federal action under NEPA.  As a result, an Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared to evaluate the environmental effects of the Project.  WAPA found there were no significant environmental impacts and selected the Proposed Action Alternative for implementation, as documented in the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), linked below.

​PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Multiple opportunities for public involvement were offered.  WAPA hosted a public scoping meeting on March 3, 2020, at the New Underwood Community Center.  Approximately 30 members of the public attended the public scoping meeting.  The meeting was advertised via letters mailed to private landowners in the vicinity of the Project, stakeholders, and local, state, and federal agencies.  Announcements were also published in the Pennington County Courant on February 13, 20, and 27, 2020, prior to the meeting.  WAPA received nine comments during the public scoping comment period, which ran between March 3 and April 4, 2020.

Additionally, WAPA distributed the draft EA for public review and comment between April 27, 2021 and June 1, 2021, by letters to individual landowners and interested agencies, and notices in the local newspapers.  WAPA received four comments.

Documentation of public outreach is provided in Appendix D of the EA.

​PROJECT LINKS

Scoping Meeting Materials:  Posters

​CONTACT INFORMATION

Christina Gomer

Western Area Power Administration

UGP NEPA Coordinator

2900 4th Avenue North

Billings, MT 59101-1266

(406) 255-2811​​

gomer@wapa.gov

 

Last modified on August 8th, 2023