Parump Valley News 5-7-10

Solar Millenium development agreement hearing scheduled

A public hearing on the proposed development agreement for the Solar Millenium project has been scheduled by the county commissioners for 10 a.m., June 1, in Tonopah.

The development agreement is for five years.

The county can request to review the agreement every two years, after which Solar Millenium will have 60 days to provide a written report on the progress of the development.

The pact seeks to bring the project to build two 242-megawatt solar power plants in compliance with the Amargosa Valley area plan.

Both Nye County and Solar Millenium agree the project should be designed to mitigate visual impacts. Exterior lighting will be directed downward, to the extent feasible. The draft environmental impact statement said some viewers on Sandy Lane and Valley View Estates would have unobstructed views of the project.

Solar Millenium agrees to pay Nye County $20,000 for sheriff's services in Amargosa Valley and $20,000 for staff and equipment at the Amargosa Valley medical clinic within 60 days of obtaining financing for the construction.

Solar Millenium will provide emergency and fire protection training for up to four individuals, with a priority given to Amargosa Valley volunteer firefighters. The company will provide the county with access to a water supply to fight fires.

Nye County is requiring Solar Millenium to have adequate water rights and provide sewer system facilities as needed.

A master traffic impact analysis is being required. Solar Millenium will improve Valley View Boulevard until an access road is completed. Solar Millenium will realign Amargosa Farm Road at its cost. The road shall remain open to the public until construction of the new alignment is complete.

Solar Millenium will be able to recoup a pro-rata share of some of the cost of constructing a new access road from any future developers.

A technical drainage study is required. The draft environmental impact survey noted the project, on over 6,000 acres, has the potential to generate large storm flows. Solar Millenium will be required to maintain and repair proposed easements for drainage and utility use.

The draft EIS said Solar Millenium will rechannel a section of 40 Mile Wash to intercept a 100-year storm event.

The county is requiring its standard 115 percent bond for infrastructure costs. The development agreement specifies the required credit rating from bond agencies.

"The parties agree that the provision of employment opportunities for local and county residents will assist in mitigating the impacts of the proposed development and acknowledge that the developer has an incentive to hire local or county residents," the agreement said.

Solar Millenium expects to hire an average of 650 full-time construction workers during construction, which will take 39 months. It expects to hire 180 full-time employees to operate the facility.

The company "will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that a significant portion of the personnel employed and assigned to the project will be full-time employees with benefits."

Public meetings in Amargosa Valley will be held at least twice before construction begins and at least twice more before the plants begin operating in order to provide local residents with information on employment opportunities.

Solar Millenium "will make commercially reasonable efforts" to hire Nye County workers for the construction and operation of the solar power plant and request its contractors to do the same.

The agreement asks Solar Millenium to make a good faith effort to purchase a reasonable amount of goods from county vendors and to receive material at the development in order to pay Nye County sales tax.

Nye County agrees to cooperate in obtaining rights-of-way and easements outside of the project that may be necessary for development. In the alternative, Solar Millenium may proceed with developing an alternate right-of-way or easement approved by Nye County.

A facility emergency plan is required before accepting hazardous materials.

The county will accommodate Solar Millenium's desire for timely reviews of studies, maps, plans and other documents. Hydrology studies, traffic studies and other land use requests will be reviewed within 15 business days the first time, within 10 business days for the second review, and within five business days for the third and any subsequent reviews.

An independent consultant will be required to inspect the development.

Solar Millenium may terminate the agreement any time prior to beginning construction by delivering written notice to the county it was unable to obtain state or federal approval. The county may extend the agreement beyond five years.

The agreement adds, "Permanent cessation of operations and decommissioning of the ASPP (Amargosa Solar Power Plant) shall be done in compliance with all applicable state and federal permits and regulations."