Hayward Solar Project
Project Contact
Project Summary
Hayward Solar, LLC is proposing to build and operate the Hayward Solar Project -- a 150 megawatt (MW) solar farm in Freeborn County, Minn. The project will occupy approximately 1,272 acres east of the city of Hayward and just south of Interstate 90. The project will use photovoltaic solar panels mounted on linear tracking systems. The project will interconnect with the electrical grid via a switching station on the existing Hayward - Murphy Creek 161 kV transmission line.
The project requires a certificate of need and a site permit from the Minnesota Public Utilites Commission. Upon applying for these approvals, public meetings regarding the project will be held. Department of Commerce, Energy Environmental Review and Analysis (EERA) staff will prepare an environmental asessment (EA) for the project. A public hearing will be held to gather public input. After completion of the EA and the public hearing, the Commission will make decisions on Hayward Solar's certificate of need and site permit applications.
Documents related to the Commission's site permitting process for the project can be found below ("Key Project Documents" and "Project Document"). Documents related to the Commission's certificate of need process can be found in Commission docket: CN-21-112.
On November 30, 2022, the Commission issued a certificate of need and a site permit for the Hayward Solar Project.
Interactive Map
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Key Project Documents
| Date | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| November 30, 2022 | Site Permit for Hayward Solar Project | The site permit issued by the Commission for the Hayward Solar Project. |
| November 30, 2022 | Order Granting a Certificate of Need and Issuing a Site Permit | The Commission's order granting a certificate of need and issuing a site permit for the Hayward Solar Project. |
| March 2, 2022 | Hayward Solar Project Environmental Assessment | The environmental assessment (EA) for the Hayward Solar Project prepared by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The EA analyzes the potential impacts of the project and possible mitigation measures. In addition, the EA discusses the potential impacts of alternatives to the project itself. |
| October 15, 2021 | Certificate of Need and Site Permit Amendment | Hayward Solar's amendment of their certificate of need and site permit applications. The amendment describes movement of the project switching station approximately 1,000 feet westward to accommodate a project landowner and the interconnecting utility. The remainder of the project is generally unchanged. |
| May 5, 2021 | Certificate of Need Application | The certificate of need application for the Hayward Solar Project. Includes text and figures. |
| May 5, 2021 | Site Permit Application | The site permit application for the Hayward Solar Project. Includes text, maps, and appendices |