FAST-41 Initiation Notice, dated September 14, 2021 – “KWEP is a proposed 308-MW wind energy generation plant consisting of up to 68 wind turbine generators (WTGs), a project substation including switchgear and battery energy storage (BESS) equipment, accompanying ancillary infrastructure, and a 29-mile transmission line to Sloan Canyon Switching Station. The combined area under application is 9,264 acres, but the project will only require temporary and permanent disturbance totaling up to 700 acres or 7.6 percent of the application area…
The plant will generate electricity using state of the art WTGs that use algorithms to enhance grid reliability, in addition to augmenting grid stability by offsetting the daytime profile of solar generation with wind generation at night and BESS. The energy from the WTGs would be gathered by an internal electrical collection system at a voltage of 34.5 kV that would be stepped up to 230 kV at a one of the two onsite project substations. The energy would then be transmitted to the grid via a new 230 kV transmission line…
Crescent Peak Renewables, LLC (CPR) intends to construct, operate, and decommission two major types of facilities described in detail below: 1) wind turbines with associated work/crane pads facilities and 2) linear facilities.
1. The wind turbine facilities would be located within an approximately 9,154-acre project area. These facilities would include:
• The wind turbines and their supporting foundations;
• The crane and work pads surrounding each wind turbine;
• Substations and related switchgear, power conditioning and centrally housed BESS facilities; and
• An on-site O&M facility.
2. Project linear facilities would include:
• Main and secondary access roads;
• A 29-mile 230kV gen-tie line to carry electricity to the proposed point of interconnection (up to 110 acres of total disturbance);
• Collection power lines for wind turbines, buildings and backup for control systems; and
• Communications cables or lines.
The Project is sited entirely on federal lands administered by BLM within the jurisdiction of the BLM Sothern Nevada District Office (SNDO) located in Las Vegas.”
BLM received initial application March 3, 2021
The BLM completed the processing priority review of the application, in accordance with the regulations, on November 12, 2021. Due to resource conflicts associated with the project, the Kulning Wind Energy Project application was categorized as a Low Priority for processing. The regulations require the BLM to prioritize processing of high and medium priority-lower conflict applications over processing of low priority applications, like the Kulning Wind Energy Project application. Additionally, the regulations state that low priority applications may not be feasible to authorize.
N/A
N/A
N/A
On March 21, 2023, President Biden signed a proclamation establishing the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. The entirety of the proposed Kulning Wind Energy Project is within the boundary of the national monument.
On August 10, 2023, Crescent Peak Renewables submitted a request to the BLM Las Vegas Field Office to withdraw the applications for the project.
On August 13, 2023, BLM formally accepted the request to withdraw the applications for the project.