La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § V-717

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section V-717 - Submission of Bids on State Tract Offered for Wind Lease [Formerly LAC 43:I.1017]

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 §707. 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.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § V-717

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Mineral Resources, LR 34:264 (February 2008), repromulgated LR 411738 (9/1/2015).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 41:1734.