Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 138 - Public Utilities Commission
Chapter 7854 - SITE PERMIT; LARGE WIND ENERGY SYSTEM
Part 7854.0100 - DEFINITIONS

Subpart 1. Scope.

As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings given them.

Subp. 2. Associated facilities.

"Associated facilities" means facilities, equipment, machinery, and other devices necessary to the operation and maintenance of a large wind energy conversion system, including access roads, collector and feeder lines, and substations.

Subp. 3. Commission.

"Commission" means the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

Subp. 4. Construction.

"Construction" means to begin or cause to begin as part of a continuous program the placement, assembly, or installation of facilities or equipment or to conduct significant site preparation work for installation of facilities or equipment. Entering into binding power purchase contracts or obtaining wind easements from property owners or gathering wind data is not construction.

Subp. 5. Draft site permit.

"Draft site permit" means a document prepared by the chair that indicates a preliminary decision to issue a site permit with particular terms and conditions.

Subp. 6. EQB Monitor.

"EQB Monitor" means the biweekly bulletin published by the Environmental Quality Board.

Subp. 7. Large wind energy conversion system or LWECS.

"Large wind energy conversion system" or "LWECS" means a combination of wind energy conversion systems with a combined nameplate capacity of 5,000 kilowatts or more.

Subp. 8. Person.

"Person" means an individual, partnership, joint venture, private or public corporation, association, firm, public service company, cooperative, political subdivision, municipal corporation, government agency, public utility district, or any other entity, public or private, however organized.

Subp. 9. Power purchase agreement.

"Power purchase agreement" means a legally enforceable agreement between two or more persons where one or more of the signatories agrees to provide electrical power and one or more of the signatories agrees to purchase the power.

Subp. 10. PUC.

"PUC" means the commission and the commission's staff.

Subp. 11. Site permit.

"Site permit" means a document issued by the commission authorizing a person or persons to construct a large wind energy conversion system under the terms and conditions specified in the document.

Subp. 12. Small wind energy conversion system or SWECS.

"Small wind energy conversion system" or "SWECS" means a combination of wind energy conversion systems with a combined nameplate capacity of less than 5,000 kilowatts.

Subp. 13. Wind energy conversion system or WECS.

"Wind energy conversion system" or "WECS" means a device such as a wind charger, windmill, or wind turbine and associated facilities that converts wind energy to electric energy.