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Board members press for clearer turbine decommissioning estimates after state comments
Summary
Board members said state reviewers requiring revisions exposed uncertainty around turbine decommissioning costs; one member cited per-turbine estimates of $500,000–$1,000,000 and an Oklahoma project with a $330 million estimate for full decommissioning.
Board member (S3) told the board that Department of Public Service (DPS) comments require the applicant to revise its decommissioning plan and submit additional materials before permits, construction or tree clearing can proceed. "They still have to comply with the decommissioning and with some other things that they're asking them to do," the board member said, noting the need for a more robust estimate and supporting documentation.
S3 said prior conversations with a research farm and a local salvage yard indicated per-turbine decommissioning cost estimates in the range of $500,000 to $1,000,000 and referenced an Oklahoma case with a $330,000,000 estimate for an entire project. Staff and board members said the applicant (Heritage) must provide a professional-engineer-certified cost estimate and additional decommissioning details before the town will allow tree clearing or construction activity to proceed.
