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<br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS <br />The Applicant employs a rigorous site selection process to mitigate, to the largest extent feasible, <br />negative environmental impacts, while partnering with landowners and local communities to <br />generate positive economic and environmental benefits. <br />The Project will generate approximately 2,390 MW-hours of clean electricity each year, which is <br />enough to power more than 200 average homes and will result in an annual emissions reduction <br />of over 3.73 million pounds of CO2. This is equivalent to removing roughly 365 passenger <br />vehicles from the road annually. <br />The Project will also deploy pollinator-friendly vegetation as a ground cover underneath the array <br />and within the security fence. Pollinator habitat co-located with solar serves the dual use of <br />ground cover to prevent soil erosion, while also benefiting pollinator populations. Pollinators are <br />a crucial component of all agricultural ecosystems, providing every third bite of food we eat, yet <br />suitable habitat for these species has become increasingly sparse and fragmented. <br />Beyond promoting a healthy local environment, this Project will deliver numerous economic <br />benefits. This project will create long-term monitoring and maintenance jobs, temporary <br />construction jobs, and indirect jobs through local spending at hotels, restaurants, and <br />construction materials suppliers, among others. The Project will also generate a consistent <br />revenue stream over it’s operational life through recurring annual lease payments. In addition, <br />businesses and residents of the City of Lake Elmo and Washington County will be able to <br />purchase energy produced by the Project at a discounted rate, saving them money on their <br />electrical bills. <br />CONSTRUCTION, OPERATIONS, AND MAINTENANCE <br />Construction activities will include, installation of racking posts and assembly of the racking <br />system, mounting of the solar modules, wiring the modules together, trenching of underground <br />electrical cables, construction of concrete pads for the inverters, and construction of the project <br />access roadways. During construction noise levels will be kept to the appropriate daytime hours <br />and will be temporary. Construction is likely to be complete within four to six months.