GCU-2022-0002

The stakeholders in Iowa Utilities Board docket GCU-2022-0002 (Goldfinch Solar Project) include:

Goldfinch Solar Project, LLC (the applicant): Proponent of the proposed 200 MW solar project.

Private Landowners: Over 15 private landowners are participating with 100% voluntary easements; many adjacent landowners have signed on and are part of the project. These landowners are generally supportive, as they are receiving lease payments and have voluntarily agreed to participate 1.

Neighbors: There have been discussions with neighbors within ½ mile of the project, compensation offered for additional screening, and opportunities for them to provide feedback. Many adjacent landowners have signed and are part of the project, indicating support, though some neighbors have voiced concerns or objections (see below) 1.

General Public/Community: More than 80 comments have been filed in support of the project. Several objections were submitted, mostly voicing opposition to solar energy in general or concerns about farmland being taken out of production. At least one objecting landowner had already signed a voluntary lease. Another objection came from a landowner within 1,000 feet of the project boundary, concerned about farmland loss, but did not expressly oppose the application or request a hearing 2.

Trade Union: One trade union filed a request for intervention in support of the project 2.

Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA): Reviewed the application and found Goldfinch satisfied the criteria for receiving a certificate of public convenience and necessity, did not object to the waiver of hearing requirements, and did not oppose the project 3, 3.

Iowa Utilities Board: Regulatory authority, presiding over the docket, not a proponent or opponent but adjudicator.

Summary of positions:
- Support: Goldfinch Solar, most participating landowners, trade union, majority of public comments, Office of Consumer Advocate.
- Opposition/Concerns: Several objections from individuals concerned about solar energy or agricultural land use, but no organized opposition; objectors are a minority and in at least one case, had already signed a lease for the project 2.

No party has raised a legal issue requiring a hearing, and there is no evidence of substantial organized opposition to the main proposal 2.

The main financial and timeline risks and concerns discussed in the docket for the Goldfinch Solar Project are:

Financial Risks and Concerns:
- The project represents a capital investment exceeding $250 million in Washington County, with more than $10 million in total property taxes projected over the life of the project 1. While this is a significant investment, there is an implicit financial risk associated with such a large capital outlay.
- For decommissioning, financial security is required to cover the estimated decommissioning costs if Goldfinch Solar fails to do so itself. These costs are determined by a third-party engineer and updated every 5 years, ensuring that financial risk is mitigated by periodic reassessment and secured funds 1.

Timeline Risks and Concerns:
- Construction is anticipated to begin in April 2024, with a projected commercial operation date of October 2025. Delays to procedural steps, such as required hearings or additional information requests, could hinder project procurement and construction timelines 2, 3.
- Goldfinch Solar requested a waiver of certain procedural requirements, including the need for a hearing, arguing that holding a hearing when a decision could be made on the written record would be an unnecessary expenditure of resources and could delay procurement and construction. The company contends that denying the waiver could cause undue hardship due to such delays 3, 3.
- The Board noted that if deficiencies or missing information are identified in the application, the applicant has 30 days to cure them, which could potentially delay the start of construction if not addressed promptly 3.
- Impact studies from MISO (the regional transmission operator) had not yet been completed at the time of application review, which could potentially create timeline uncertainties if significant transmission or interconnection issues are later identified 3.

Overall, the primary financial risk is related to ensuring sufficient funds for decommissioning and the scale of investment, while the main timeline concerns focus on regulatory process delays, incomplete transmission studies, and the need to avoid unnecessary hearings or procedural requirements that could postpone the construction start date.

The Goldfinch Solar Project docket identifies several areas of growth, primarily focused on economic development, community and landowner support, and renewable energy infrastructure. Key considerations for each are as follows:

Economic Development:
- The project is expected to create or retain hundreds of jobs during construction and several permanent positions for ongoing operations. This workforce is anticipated to generate increased revenues for local businesses supplying goods and services.
- Over the 30-year operating life, the project is estimated to produce approximately $10 million in tax revenue for local governmental entities 1.
- The project aligns with state policy to encourage alternative energy development and provide economic benefits, supporting legislative intent as outlined in Iowa Code § 476.41 and § 476.53 1.

Community and Landowner Support:
- Site selection considered the level of community and landowner support, and Goldfinch Solar conducted outreach to solicit public input.
- The company secured all necessary land rights, ensuring that eminent domain will not be required, which minimizes potential conflict and demonstrates respect for property owners 1.

Renewable Energy Infrastructure:
- The proposed site was selected based on proximity to existing transmission infrastructure, including substations and transmission lines suitable for interconnection.
- The project supports the transition to a lower carbon-emitting energy supply and is expected to be consistent with environmental policies and reasonable land use 1.

Key considerations within each area include minimizing adverse impacts (environmental, visual, noise, property values), compliance with zoning and environmental regulations, and ensuring that the project’s construction, maintenance, and operation are consonant with reasonable utilization of air, land, and water resources. The project is also designed to avoid significant negative impacts on agriculture and cultural resources, with a plan for site restoration post-decommissioning 1.

Key events and submissions in the Goldfinch Solar proceeding (Iowa Utilities Board Docket No. GCU-2022-0002) include:

- July 15, 2022: Goldfinch Solar filed a request with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) for a public informational meeting in preparation for seeking a generating certificate for a 200 MW solar project in Washington County, Iowa 1, 1.
- September 26, 2022: The required public informational meeting was held in Ainsworth, Iowa 1, 1, 2.
- May 2, 2023: Goldfinch Solar filed its application for a Certificate of Public Convenience, Use and Necessity (CPCN) with the IUB 1, 1, 1.
- May 17 and June 20, 2023: Goldfinch Solar submitted additional information to complete its application 1, 1, 1.
- July 25, 2023: Goldfinch Solar requested waivers of certain hearing requirements under Iowa Code §§ 476a.4 and 476a.5 and specific administrative rules 1, 1, 1.
- August 4, 2023: The IUB issued an order accepting the application as substantially complete and set a limited procedural schedule, with intervention requests, objections, and comments due within 30 days 3, 3.
- September 1, 2023: Great Plains Laborers’ District Council filed a petition to intervene 1, 1.
- September 5, 2023: Deadline for intervention requests, objections, and comments 1, 1.
- September 12, 2023: Goldfinch Solar filed a response supporting the waiver of a hearing and confirming notice to landowners 4.
- November 16, 2023: The IUB issued an order granting waivers, intervention, confidential treatment, and the application for a certificate of public convenience, use and necessity 1.
- Construction anticipated to commence in April 2024, with commercial operation projected for October 2025 1, 3.

Additional requirements include Goldfinch Solar filing status updates on permit acquisition, notice of construction commencement within 10 days, and progress updates at 50% and final completion. Decommissioning notification is required at the end of project operation 1.

The Goldfinch Solar Project, LLC docket (GCU-2022-0002) pertains to the development of a 200 MW solar photovoltaic project in Washington County, Iowa. Goldfinch Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bechtel Enterprises, secured voluntary easements for approximately 3,200 acres (with up to 1,600 acres disturbed), to host the facility using single-axis tracking solar modules. No eminent domain is sought for the project, and all land rights have been obtained voluntarily 1, 2.

The project underwent a formal regulatory process:
- An informational public meeting was held in September 2022.
- An application for a certificate of public convenience, use, and necessity was filed in May 2023, with construction originally anticipated to start in April 2024 and commercial operation targeted for October 2025 3, 2.
- The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) required supplemental information and set a procedural schedule for public comments and interventions.
- Goldfinch Solar requested waivers of hearing requirements, as all land rights were obtained voluntarily, and the Office of Consumer Advocate did not object to waiving a hearing 2, 4.

A certificate was granted on November 16, 2023, stipulating that construction must be completed within two years or the certificate would be surrendered. Due to interconnection and market delays, Goldfinch Solar requested in July 2025 that this two-year construction deadline be removed 5, 6.

The docket also documents environmental reviews (wetlands, sound impacts, sensitive areas), with the project designed to minimize impacts to sensitive resources and to be decommissioned with site restoration at end-of-life 1, 1, 7. Ownership may transfer to a local utility during or after construction 4.

In summary, the docket covers the siting, approval, procedural waivers, public engagement, and ongoing regulatory compliance for a 200 MW solar facility in Washington County, Iowa.