Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Interested, registered parties shall
submit sealed bids on the entirety of a state tract advertised as offered for
state wind lease to the Office of Mineral Resources in the form it requires by
the bid submission deadline (generally no later than 12 noon CT on the Tuesday
immediately prior to the Wednesday lease sale at which the tracts are offered
unless otherwise noticed). Each bid shall be accompanied by any other
documentation and information required.
B. Only those bidders who are registered
prospective leaseholders with the Office of Mineral Resources as set forth
under §
1007. B shall
be allowed to bid on tracts for the purpose of obtaining a wind lease from the
state of Louisiana.
C. A party
interested in bidding on a state tract for wind lease shall prepare a bid
packet that includes the items listed below. The bidder shall place all of the
items required to be included in the bid packet in an envelope, completely seal
the envelope, write the official tract number on the outside of the envelope,
and notate on the outside of the envelope that "Sealed Bid for State Wind Lease
is Enclosed." If a bidding party is submitting multiple bids then he may place
the individual sealed bid packet envelopes into a larger envelope, completely
seal the envelope, and notate on the outside of the envelope that "Sealed Bids
for State Wind Lease are Enclosed."
1. An
official bid form available from the Office of Mineral Resources. Provide one
originally signed paper copies and no electronic copy.
2. A summary of experience that shall
include, at a minimum, the number of years experience in the exploration,
development and production of wind energy and project descriptions. Experience
with wind energy projects involving government lands and water bottoms shall be
so specified.
3. A proposed plan of
operations that shall set forth the following:
a. a summary of the overall business plan of
the proposed wind energy development including size of operation, development
costs, marketing of the site, market prices, and status of acquiring a power
purchase agreement;
b. a summary of
the overall wind project including status of site control (progress with
leasing other properties within the entire wind project boundaries), wind data
reviews, and application process with the transmission provider, as well as a
time frame for the project to be operational;
c. summary of the wind development (include
plat) proposed on the state lands and water bottoms sought to be leased
including layout of wind power and transmission facilities, proposed wind tower
information (size, location, number), which towers will be affixed to existing
platforms, which towers will necessitate newly constructed platforms, turbine
make, type, nameplate power production capacity, and selection criteria used,
and supporting infrastructure;
d.
the status and timeline of the major milestones in the wind project
exploration, development, production, and decommissioning;
e. the name of the company that will operate
the wind project and the linkage, if any, to the applicant;
f. a summary of the expected revenue and cash
flow for the wind project on state lands and water bottoms, including a
detailed list of assumptions;
g.
the measures proposed to reduce risk to the state, including but not limited
to, a summary of compliance with any and all wind energy standards established
by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the American Wind Energy
Association (AWEA), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and
any other entity responsible for establishing wind industry consensus
standards. Standards for wind energy development/operations include, but are
not limited to, wind turbine safety and design, power performance,
noise/acoustic measurement, mechanical load measurements, blade structural
testing, power quality, and siting;
h. a summary of how the wind energy project
will ensure the viability of the state's natural resources, provide a
continuing energy source for the citizens and businesses of Louisiana, promote
economic development through job retention and creation in the state of
Louisiana, and promote a clean and lasting environment;
i. a summary of how the use of the state land
and water bottoms for the exploration, development and production of wind
energy will be coordinated with other users of the state lands and water
bottoms.
4. A summary of
the environmental issues including, but not limited to, avian and baseline
noise levels, the environmental impact of the placement of wind turbines and
other equipment necessary for the exploration, development and production of
wind energy, and the steps proposed to minimize the environmental impact, along
with any supporting environmental impact documentation.
5. A list of project participants who are or
will be participating in the planning, predevelopment, construction, operation,
maintenance, remediation, and/or decommission phases of the proposed project,
and a brief description of their role. This list shall be supplemented for each
new project participant.
6. A
summary of project financing which shall include, at a minimum, identification
of the sources of financing and a discussion of such financing.
7. A list of governmental entities including
each federal, state, parish and local governmental entity that has jurisdiction
in the nomination area and for each, the contact person name, title, office
address, telephone and fax numbers, and email, as well as the type of legal
authority, if any, acquired or to be acquired from the governmental
entity.
8. If two or more parties
are submitting a joint bid, each party shall submit a Designation of Principal
State Wind Lessee and Operator Form with the joint bid.
D. The sealed bid packet may be
hand-delivered or mailed to the Office of Mineral Resources. However, whether
hand-delivered or mailed, the sealed bid packet shall be physically in the
hands of appropriate Office of Mineral Resources personnel by the bid
submission deadline (generally no later than 12 p.m. CT on the Tuesday
immediately prior to the Wednesday lease sale at which the tracts are offered
unless otherwise noticed). A receipt is generated in the name of and provided
to the party delivering the bid. Any bid received after the deadline shall not
be accepted. Further, no bid, once submitted, shall be thereafter withdrawn or
canceled.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
41:1734.
