SILVER QUEEN WIND FARM

​Scout Clean Energy proposes to construct the Silver Queen Wind Farm Project (Project) in Carroll and Crawford Counties, southwest of the town of Carroll, Iowa. The proposed project, to be called the Silver Queen Wind Farm Project, would interconnect with the Western Area Power Administration’s (WAPA’s) electrical transmission system and include construction of a 252-megawatt wind farm generating facility with up to 77 turbines and associated pads.  Other Project components would include underground communication and power collection systems, a new Project substation, access roads, an operation and maintenance facility, meteorological towers, and an overhead transmission line connecting the project to WAPA’s transmission system. Construction of the Silver Queen Wind Farm is proposed to begin as early as April 2025.​

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 h​ere​.  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) will be prepared to evaluate the environmental effects of the Project.  The EA will tier from the analysis conducted in the Upper Great Plains Wind Energy Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).  The PEIS can be viewed he​re.  If WAPA finds there are no significant environmental impacts, the interconnection request will be granted and WAPA will prepare a Finding of No Significant Impact.  Together, the EA and the PEIS would comprise the NEPA documentation for this proposed Federal action.   If significant impacts are identified, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process would be initiated.  An EIS provides a more thorough evaluation of impacts and alternatives, as well as a more formal public involvement process.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

One of the first steps in the NEPA process is public scoping.  During the scoping process, input is requested from the general public, government agencies, tribal governments, and others to identify issues and alternatives that will help WAPA define the scope of the EA.

WAPA will hold an open house public scoping meeting to provide an opportunity for interested parties to discuss the Project with federal officials and resource specialists and to submit comments. The meeting will be held in-person on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. central daylight time (CDT), at the Boulders Event Center at 2507 Boulders Drive in Denison, Iowa.

To learn more about this Project and to share your ideas, join us in-person at:

November 1, 2023
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CDT
Boulders Event Center
2507 Boulders Drive
Denison, Iowa

Comments may also be submitted in the following ways:

By mail to:

Western Area Power Administration
Attn: Mr. John Russell
Environmental Manager
2900 4th Avenue North
PO Box 35800
Billings, MT 59101-1266

By email to NEPA@wapa.gov with Silver Queen Comment in subject line

Comments should be provided or postmarked no later than November 29, 2023.

The next step in the NEPA process will be to prepare a draft EA to analyze environmental impacts of the proposal.  Once prepared, a draft of the EA will be available for public review and comment.   If you wish to be notified when the draft EA is available, please contact WAPA using one of the methods listed.

​PROJECT LINKS

CONTACT INFORMATION

Western Area Power Administration
UGP NEPA Coordinator
2900 4th Avenue North
Billings, MT 59101-1266
(406) 255-2810
nepa@wapa.gov​

 

Last modified on November 3rd, 2023