Restoration Plan
Restoration Plan
Restoration Plan
Decommissioning & Restoration Plan
Eight Point Wind Energy Center
Steuben County, New York
September 2017
Facility Operator:
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
700 Universe Boulevard
Juno Beach, FL 33408
Decommissioning Plan Eight Point Wind, LLC
Eight Point Wind Energy Center
Table of Contents
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 1
II. REMOVAL OF FACILITIES ............................................................................................................. 4
A. Wind Turbines ..................................................................................................................... 4
B. Electrical Collection System ................................................................................................ 4
C. Pad‐Mount Transformers and Junction Boxes .................................................................... 4
D. Substation and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Building .......................................... 5
E. Foundations ......................................................................................................................... 5
F. Access Roads ........................................................................................................................ 5
G. Generation Tie Line Infrastructure ..................................................................................... 6
H. Temporary Decommissioning Facilities .............................................................................. 6
III. SITE RECLAMATION .................................................................................................................... 7
A. Reseeding, Revegetation, Backfilling and Grading ............................................................. 7
B. Erosion Control and Storm Water Management ................................................................ 8
C. Debris, Waste Management and Cleanup .......................................................................... 9
D. Reclamation Monitoring ................................................................................................... 10
IV. Summary of Decommissioning Costs ...................................................................................... 11
Tables
Table 1 ‐ Decommissioning Cost Summary (in current dollars)…………………………………………………12
Decommissioning Plan Eight Point Wind, LLC
Eight Point Wind Energy Center
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Eight Point Wind, LLC (the Applicant), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (NextEra)
has prepared this Decommissioning Plan (the Plan) to outline the methods and means to
decommission the Eight Point Wind Energy Center Project (the Project) at the end of the
Project’s useful life. The purpose of the Plan is to identify the methodology to be used to
mitigate potential impacts resulting from the cessation of operation of the facility. All
decommissioning and restoration activities will adhere to the requirements of appropriate
governing authorities, and will be in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local
permits and decommissioning agreements. The Applicant will obtain any federal, state or local
permits required for site restoration prior to decommissioning activities commencing.
The Project will have an economical and technological lifetime of approximately 20 – 30 years.
At the end of its life the Project will be decommissioned and wind turbines, ancillary
equipment, buildings and infrastructure subsequently removed. Decommissioning would
commence if the Project has not generated electricity for a period of 12 continuous months,
unless the 12 month period of no energy output is the result of (a) a repair, restoration or
improvement to an integral part of the Project that affects the generation of electricity and that
repair, restoration or improvement is being diligently pursued by the Developer, or (b) a Force
Majeure event. Force majeure includes, but is not limited to, causes or events beyond the
reasonable control of, and without the fault or negligence of the Party claiming Force Majeure,
including acts of God, sudden actions of the elements such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes,
or tornadoes; sabotage; terrorism; war; riots; explosion; blockades; and insurrection.
In general, facility decommissioning is in the reverse order of facility construction and the
general sequence of decommissioning activities are outlined below:
Dismantling of wind turbines including the blades, nacelle and tower;
Removal of electrical systems and substation;
Dismantling and removal of the operations and maintenance (O&M) building;
Removal of wind turbine pads;
Removal of generation tie line;
Removal of access/ service roads; and
Site reclamation.
Prior to commencing decommissioning, the Project will be shut down, de‐energized and
disconnected from the generation tie line at the Project collection substation. The Applicant will
coordinate de‐energization with NYSEG and NYISO to ensure no disruption to the overall
electrical system. Additionally, the Applicant will give landowners and the towns of Greenwood
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and West Union at least six weeks advance notice prior to commencing decommissioning
activity.
All aboveground components including buildings, structures and equipment will be removed
during decommissioning. In addition, all foundations will be removed to a depth of at least
three feet below ground surface (bgs), backfilled and then covered with topsoil. Based on
discussions with landowners, access roads no longer needed will be removed and the disturbed
land areas subsequently graded and reseeded.
The wind turbines including towers will be dismantled and either reused at other wind energy
facilities, recycled as scrap metal or transported to an approved facility for disposal. Concrete
pads and foundations can be fragmented and crushed into aggregate for potential reuse as
road base material. After fluid removal, transformers and electrical control devices will be
reused at other facilities or recycled as scrap metal while electrical equipment will either be
recycled or transported to an approved facility for disposal. Underground electrical and fiber
optic control cables will be de‐energized and cables that were installed at depths greater than
three feet bgs will be left intact at the site.
The goal of decommissioning is the safe and efficient removal of all wind energy facility
components and reclamation of the site to conditions as close to pre‐construction
characteristics as possible including restoration of native vegetation, habitat and/ or land use.
The same safety protocols that are used during construction will be used during
decommissioning.
The major activities associated with decommissioning the Project are summarized in the
following sections. The decommissioning process is expected to take approximately four
months. This time includes the two week site mobilization and preparation; six to eight week
period to dissemble wind turbines and pad‐mount transformers; an additional four weeks is
allowed for after the last wind turbine is removed to remove and reclaim turbine foundations
and access roads; and two weeks to remove and reclaim the project laydown area/project
office and demobilize from the site. During disassembly and removal and for up to four weeks
thereafter, reclamation work including grading, backfilling, erosion control activity, reseeding
and revegetation will take place. Reclamation monitoring would take place for several months
thereafter and additional restoration work would be conducted on an “as needed” basis.
Decommissioning will comply with Greenwood and West Union town requirements:
Wind Turbine Generator removal shall include removal of all above‐ground equipment, removal
of foundations to a depth of thirty six inches (36”) beneath the soil surface in non agricultural
lands and forty eight inches (48”) in agricultural lands, restoration of soil conditions, and
restoration of vegetation to be consistent and compatible with surrounding vegetation.
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Removal of equipment is also a condition of the lease agreements with Project landowners:
Operator (Eight Point Wind, LLC) shall remove all physical material pertaining to the facility
from the affected Property to a depth of thirty six inches (36”) beneath the soil surface in non
agricultural lands and forty eight inches (48”) in agricultural lands, and restore the area
formerly occupied by the facilities to substantially the same physical condition that existed
immediately before the construction of the facilities.
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II. REMOVAL OF FACILITIES
A. Wind Turbines
Turbine disassembly would be accomplished using large cranes similar to those used for
installation. Components would be removed in reverse‐order of installation; blades and rotor
hub first, followed by the nacelle, then turbine tower sections. The components are then placed
either directly onto trucks for removal from the Project, or onto the ground near the turbine
base for eventual loading onto trucks.
If no purchaser of the intact wind turbine components can be identified, they would be
disassembled and sold for scrap. The hub, blades, and nacelle would be removed to ground
level for a scrap company to break down and strip high value components. Cabling internal to
the towers would be removed and scrapped to recover the high value copper conductor
materials. Tower sections would be lowered to grade and cut into transportable sections for
delivery to a scrap metal purchaser. Control cabinets in the base would be stripped of high
value components and the balance turned over to a scrap company for haul and disposal. Any
hazardous material such as motor oil or lubricants will be removed in accordance with OSHA
standards.
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as the copper conductor materials, would be removed and the remaining cables, equipment
and other components would be salvaged for scrap value.
In addition to steel structures, the control building will be disassembled and removed from the
site. Fencing around the substation will be broken down and removed. The gravel or aggregate
surface at the substation will loaded onto trucks and removed for sale and reuse.
The O&M building would also be removed, relocated or reconditioned. All equipment,
furniture, and materials within the O&M building will be removed prior to demolition. If the
O&M building is removed, the foundation will be removed, consistent with the method for the
wind turbines. Fencing around the O&M building will be broken down and removed. The gravel
from the parking area at the O&M building will also be fully or partially removed and will be
sold and reused.
E. Foundations
Foundations would be exposed using backhoes, bulldozers, and other heavy earth moving
equipment. Turbine foundations would be excavated to a depth sufficient to remove anchor
bolts, rebar, conduits, cable, and concrete to a depth of at least three feet below grade. After
removal of noted foundation materials, the areas would be filled with clean compatible sub‐
grade material compacted to a density similar to the surrounding sub‐grade material. All
disturbed areas will be restored to pre‐existing conditions and contours.
F. Access Roads
To perform the decommissioning activities, it may be necessary to return some roads to their
construction stage conditions temporarily. This would allow for efficient crane access to the
turbine sites and facilitate removal of the wind turbine components by truck. A road survey will
be conducted to determine the condition of the roads prior to work decommissioning activities.
During the decommissioning process, and where necessary, roads will be cleared, compacted,
graded and maintained.
Once decommissioning has been completed, roads would be removed and reclaimed, unless
the underlying landowner requests otherwise. Turbine access roads would be removed (unless
the landowner requests they remain in place). Removal of turbine access roads includes the
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removal of gravel or aggregate, removal of any pervious geo‐fabric, and removal of any
unnecessary culverts, de‐compaction of the road base, and recontouring of larger cuts and fills.
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III. SITE RECLAMATION
To prevent the introduction of undesirable plant species into reclaimed areas and ensure slope
stability, seeding and site reclamation efforts will utilize seed for grasses native to the area and
free of noxious weeds. If mulch is used, the mulch will be certified weed‐free prior to use in
reclamation efforts. Agricultural seed will likely be secured from a local source. Seed mixtures
may be considered in consultation with NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets for
use during reclamation of the Project.
All disturbed soil surfaces within agricultural fields would be seeded with a seed mix agreed
upon with the landowner in order to maintain consistency with the surrounding agricultural
uses. All other disturbed areas would be restored to a condition and forage density reasonably
similar to original conditions. In all areas restoration shall include leveling, terracing, mulching,
and other necessary steps to prevent soil erosion, to ensure establishment of suitable grasses
and to control noxious weeds and pest. Reseeding will occur on all disturbed surfaces.
Restoration methods and Best Management Practices to minimize wind and water erosion will
be implemented where practical to maximize revegetation success.
The topsoil will be placed in a roughened condition to prevent erosion and additional erosion
control and soil stabilization measures may be required on steeper slopes, areas of erodible
soils or areas adjacent to streams and creeks. Topsoil will be scarified, tilled or harrowed to a
depth of approximately three to four inches below ground surface to create a suitable seedbed
for germination and establishment of seed. In areas not conducive to this method (e.g. steep
slopes, rocky areas, etc.), the soil will be dozer‐tracked perpendicular to the slope or left with
sufficient roughness following topsoil placement to provide microsites for seed germination,
capture and retention of available precipitation and reduce soil movement or erosion.
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Grading activities will be limited to the minimal area required to complete site restoration of
disturbed areas using a bulldozer, grader or similar earth moving equipment. Disturbed areas
will be graded and contoured to restore the natural topography and drainage of the site prior
to construction of the wind energy facility.
Silt fencing, straw bales or other similar storm water structures will be installed as needed to
control soil erosion and sedimentation while re‐ establishing vegetation in seeded areas.
Reclamation will likely include the installation of storm water control structures (i.e. berms, hay
bales, mulch, etc.) to prevent soil erosion and/ or sedimentation during the seeding and re‐
establishment of native grasses at the Project.
Upon completion of restoration and reclamation activities, any silt fences or barriers used to
facilitate reseeding will be removed when no longer needed for erosion and sedimentation
control. To the maximum extent possible, native grasses will be utilized to stabilize disturbed
areas and control storm water runoff during site reclamation.
Erosion controls are the primary method for preventing impacts to storm water runoff quality
while sediment controls provide a secondary method of protection to erosion controls by
facilitating containment of any sediment in storm water runoff. Commonly used BMPs that
may be employed at the site during reclamation will include:
Minimize disturbed areas and protect natural features of the site (native soil, topsoil,
vegetation, topography and drainage areas);
Control storm water runoff and flow to and from disturbed areas;
Stabilize soils as quickly as possible following decommissioning of the facility; and
Protect slopes and exposed soil;
Protect culvert inlets, drainage structures and nearby surface water features;
Establish perimeter controls around disturbed soil zones;
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Retain sediment to prevent transport off‐site in storm water runoff; and
Maintain controls including removal or accumulated sediment during re‐establishment
of vegetation.
Non‐structural BMPs include seeding, mulching, geotextiles, sod stabilization, protection of
native vegetation including trees, preservation or storm water drainage features, soil
stabilization and other similar BMPs. Structural BMPs include diversion structures to divert
storm water runoff away from disturbed areas, earthen diversion dikes/berms, silt fences
(filter fabric or straw/hay bales), drainage swales sediment traps, check dams, culvert inlet/
outlet protection, gabions, and soil retaining systems used to control erosion and
sedimentation during site reclamation.
In general, straw bales or fiber rolls will be placed at approximate 100‐foot intervals or other
approved interval depending on slopes in drainage swales. The BMPs will remain intact and
maintained until site reclamation is complete.
Riprap, gabions and/ or similar structures may be used to secure banks or steep slopes from
erosion. The source of riprap may include rock materials removed during grading, turbine pad
removal, and/ or excavation activities associated with construction of the Project.
During decommissioning, solid and industrial wastes may result from the dismantling of wind
energy equipment and structures including fluids drained from wind turbine drivetrain
components (lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids, etc.). These fluids will be managed and
transported to an approved facility for disposal.
Solid waste management will include the provision of trash containers and regular site cleanup
for proper disposal of solid waste (scrap metal, food, containers, etc.) during decommissioning
and site reclamation. Trash and bulk waste collection areas with containers (dumpsters, rolloff
containers or similar waste receptacles) will be designated at the site and materials will be
recycled when possible (paper, wood, concrete, etc.). Litter, bottles and assorted trash will be
removed daily from decommissioning areas and placed in designated trash containers for
disposal. Trash, debris and any other solid waste generated during decommissioning will be
minimized and managed in accordance with applicable regulations and routinely removed from
the site, as needed.
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D. Reclamation Monitoring
Following completion of site reclamation, routine monitoring will be implemented at the site to
ensure native vegetation, habitats and/ or land use is re‐established in the areas disturbed
during decommissioning of the Project and that the site has successfully been restored to pre‐
construction conditions.
Reseeded areas will be routinely monitored and inspected to ensure storm water controls
remain effective while vegetation is re‐established for slope stability and erosion control. Once
vegetation is established, any silt fences or barriers used to facilitate the process will be
removed when no longer needed for erosion and sedimentation control.
Invasive species and noxious weeds will be managed during site reclamation to control and/or
prevent the establishment of invasive species and noxious weeds within reclaimed areas. To
prevent the establishment and spread of noxious and invasive weeds in reseeded areas, routine
monitoring and control of weeds will be implemented at the site following completion of
decommissioning activities. Vegetation control may include manual, mechanical, biological or
chemical treatment methods and if herbicides were deemed necessary, the application and use
will comply with applicable federal, state, and county guidelines.
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IV. Summary of Decommissioning Costs
The estimated decommissioning costs per turbine were prepared using available information
from NextEra’s experience decommissioning other wind projects and from information and
input from NextEra’s general contractors and consulting engineers. The current cost of
decommissioning turbines is estimated to be approximately $100,000 per turbine, although this
cost will be offset by the salvage value of the towers and the turbine components. The
estimated salvage value of the each wind turbine was based upon the worst case scenario
assuming the only salvage value of the wind turbine is from scrapping the steel and copper. The
estimate was based on the weight of each wind turbine and associated components which
consists primarily of steel. Also, there would be opportunities for re‐sale for reuse of all or some
wind turbines or their components.
The Applicant will pay for all decommissioning costs using cash on hand. The table on the
following page summarizes decommissioning costs.
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Table 1. Decommissioning Cost Summary (in current dollars)
Crane operation to dismantle tower. Preparation of $80,000
Removal of a wind tower to dismantle, oil removal, cut power, etc.
turbine: tower dismantle and salvage preparation. Crane
operation and breakdown, and transport.
Removal of concrete Demolition of footings and foundations, including $20,000
to 36” below grade in grading.
non‐ag land and 48”
in ag land:
Total per unit $100,000
Total 31 turbines $3,100,000
Removal of collection line where necessary, $100,000
Collection Line including all overhead collection.
Transmission Line Removal of utility poles, guy wires and conductors. $800,000
Decommissioning
Removal of the substation equipment, power circuit $250,000
Substation Removal
breakers. Etc.
Removal of gravel, regrading, hauling and disposal $212,520
Reclamation of of gravel. Decompacting and re‐vegetation.
Access Roads Assumes approximately 60% of roads reclaimed at a
cost of $5.75 per foot.
Mobilization and Mobilization, backfill, grading, reseeding, $250,000
other site restoration revegetation, erosion control, etc.
Total Project BOP $1,612,520
TOTAL DECOMMISSIONING COSTS $4,712,520
Total Project Salvage Scrap value of major steel components ($202/ton) $3,194,550
Value and copper components ($1.92/lb.)
TOTAL NET DECOMMISSIONING COST $1,517,970
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