Barr successfully navigated Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) state permitting process for the Birch Coulee Solar Project, a proposed 125-megawatt facility in Renville County, Minnesota. From the initial field surveys to the final Site Permit approval, our team provided comprehensive, end-to-end support to AES US Renewables.
Our work began with studies to inform the permitting strategy and optimize project design. Barr’s studies included habitat assessment, noise study with baseline monitoring, and wetland delineation. We also coordinated a cultural resources survey that included active participation from tribal representatives. This process ensured that Traditional Cultural Specialists from local tribes were invited to take part, allowing them to identify areas of cultural significance within the project site that required avoidance.
To strengthen the Site Permit application, Barr produced compelling before-and-after visual renderings, performed a prime farmland analysis, authored an Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan, and developed a thorough Decommissioning Plan. Our team compiled all technical studies, created clear and user-friendly map sets, and assembled a complete application package that met Minnesota Rule requirements.
The application was submitted in July 2024 and was accepted without comments. The PUC issued the Site Permit in August 2025.
