Denison Substation Expansion and Point of Interconnection (formerly known as Silver Queen Wind Farm)

WAPA has cancelled the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Silver Queen Wind Farm interconnection request located in Crawford and Carroll Counties, Iowa. WAPA reevaluated the interconnection request consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), DOE NEPA regulations at 10 CFR part 1021, and DOE’s NEPA implementing procedures outside the Code of Federal Regulations available at energy.gov/nepa. The Federal action, Denison Substation Expansion and Point of Interconnection, fits within categories of actions in Appendix B of both 10 CFR 1021 and DOE’s NEPA implementing procedures.

WAPA analyzed the conditions that are integral elements of the categories of actions, concluded there is no potential for significant effects, and approved a Categorical Exclusion (CX) Determination for the Project.

WAPA’s CX Determination is posted on WAPA’s Upper Great Plain’s website at https://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/ugp/environment/.  It can also be found below under Project Links Associated with the CX Determination.

Further information on Scout Clean Energy’s Silver Queen Wind Farm can be directed to Zach Lasek at (804) 955-9516 or zach@scoutcleanenergy.com. The wind farm is not part of WAPA’s Federal action under NEPA, as amended.

Further information on the Federal action, Denison Substation Expansion and Point of Interconnection, can be directed to Ashley Jackson-Baillie at (970) 765-6037 or by email at nepa@wapa.gov.

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 to WAPA’s Upper Great Plains must submit an application for interconnection to the Southwest Power Pool (SPP).  For more information about the interconnection process, visit WAPA’s interconnection page.  The Federal interconnection process is separate from any State, County, or local permitting and approvals that may be required.

Public Involvement

A public scoping period was held from November 1st to November 29th, 2023.  During the scoping process, input was requested from the general public, government agencies, tribal governments, and others to identify issues and alternatives that would help WAPA define the scope of the now cancelled EA.

WAPA announced the publication of the Draft EA on August 13, 2024. A public review period for the Draft EA was held until September 13, 2024.

Project Links Associated with the CX Determination

Project Links Associated with the Cancelled EA

Silver Queen Wind Draft EA Appendices

wdt_ID Appendix Appendix Name Type
1 Appendix A Crawford County Development Agreement PDF
2 Appendix B Turbine Specifications PDF
3 Appendix C Conservation Measures PDF
4 Appendix D Fall 2023 Wetland Delineation Technical Memorandum PDF
5 Appendix E Water Crossing Tables PDF
6 Appendix F Scoping Comment Response Matrix PDF
7 Appendix G 2023 Sound Modeling Assessment PDF
8 Appendix H Bird and Bat Conservation Strategy BBCS and Survey Reports PDF
9 Appendix I Iowa Department of Natural Resources Environmental Review IDNR PDF
10 Appendix J Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS Wildlife Working Lands Habitat Evaluation PDF
11 Appendix K USFWS Information for Planning and Consultation IPaC PDF
13 Appendix L State and Federally Listed Species Descriptions PDF
14 Appendix M 2023 Visual Impact and Shadow Flicker Assessments PDF
15 Appendix N Section 106 Consultation PDF
16 Appendix O Microwave and Communications Assessments PDF
17 Appendix P Scoping Materials PDF

Contact Information

Western Area Power Administration
UGP NEPA Coordinator
2900 4th Avenue North
Billings, MT 59101-1266
(720) 962-7285
nepa@wapa.gov​

Last modified on April 17th, 2026