Louisiana Wind LLC
2803 Saint Philip St , New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Louisiana Wind, LLC, a Louisiana company was formed in June 2013 to develop and build a wind farm to harvest Class 3 winds shown to exist in central Louisiana. When fully implemented the 150 MW Louisiana Wind Farm will have approximately 55 turbines installed; over 5,000 acres and provide enough electricity equivalent to power more than 60,000 average Louisiana households.  Lousiana Wind will generate substantial royalties for landowners over the life of the project and infuse millions into the local economy. The project moves Louisiana another step closer to achieving its potential to collect meaningful amount of its power from wind.  The wind farm is located in Southeastern Evangeline Parish and includes current land leases for turbine placement sites over 4,500 acres and has a minimum target for 150MW of power generation. The estimate is based on approximately 55 wind turbine generators of up to 2.5MW capacity each. Construction of Louisiana Wind is targeted to begin in late 2017 and will reached substantial completion in mid 2019. The project proposes to connect to one of multiple utility 230Kvw lines available that can support our capacity. The electricity from the project will be under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement.  Currently, Lousiana Wind has over 4,500 acres under lease, has completed preliminary wind assessment, utility system impact studies, environmental, permitting and is positioned to complete final system and facility impact studies, environmental approvals, detailed site and turbine engineering, and is posied to enter into negotiations leading to the Power Purchase Agreement.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Lousiana Wind leadership has hosted meetings with local policymakers and regulators that have enhanced the community and policy position of the project. Municipal leaders such as the Parish Assessor, Public Service Commission members, State District Representative and State Senator (District leaders: H. Bernard Lebas, State District representative: K. Eric LaFleur, State Senator) have been briefed regarding the project. Local municipal leader Dirk DeVille, Evangeline Parish Assessor has also been briefed.  Lousiana Wind has also hosted information sessions and group presentations on Wind Turbine Generator siting and impacts. Discussions with all landowners and stakeholder and groups have been positive. Lousiana Wind has also been in contact with the following groups which are very supportive of the sustainable nature of the wind farm: Sierra Club, Alliance for Affordable Energy, US Green Building Council, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Green Army, and the National Resources Defense Council.  Throughout the early phases consistent communication has been provided to current landowners and stakeholders; Lousiana Wind has met personally with owners of leased and potentially leased properties. One Acadiana Economic Development, the local incentive provider has engaged to review projections and guide Lousiana Wind through the tax incentive process. There is general goodwill and anticipation of a successful wind project in Louisiana.

Based on a third party review and documentation of existing permitting and approvals from the State, Parish, FAA, and other governing authorities the following summary is representative of the acreage under land lease:

• Evangeline Parish has no restrictive wind energy siting ordinances or zoning regulations. Project impacts to parish roads, drainage ditches, and floodplains will require review and approval from the respective departments. Evangeline Parish has requested to review plans to discuss the project.
• There are no state ordinances restricting, regulating the siting and development of wind energy projects.
• If state-maintained road right-of-way will be encroached upon by project infrastructure, the appropriate permit must be obtained from LaDOTD (Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development). The study recommends consulting with LaDOTD at least three months prior to construction. „„After a review of the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) the study recommends a site survey to document location/ownership of any pipelines or easements on the property.
• No railroad lines are documented on the subject property.
• Storm water regulations require all commercial construction disturbances greater than one acre to obtain a storm water discharge permit, which requires the development of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3). Additionally, a Notice of Intent must be filed with the Louisiana Department of
• Environmental Quality (LDEQ). Provisional approval is granted two calendar days from the date of submission.
• Any proposed water well associated with the project must be reviewed and approved by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR)
• Groundwater Resources Program. A permit application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to well installation.
• Preliminary FAA review indicates project is compatible with height restrictions. The FAA requires notice of construction when the proposed construction will exceed 200-feet above the ground, or within certain distances from a public or military airport. Submittal of FAA form 7460-1 will likely be required for each proposed turbine, as it is assumed the turbines will exceed the 200 foot threshold. Erections of the turbines should begin in late summer, 2017.