Energy is an essential part of American life and a staple of the world economy. The Trump Administration is committed to energy policies that lower costs for hardworking Americans and maximize the use of American resources, freeing us from dependence on foreign oil.
For too long, we’ve been held back by burdensome regulations on our energy industry. President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule. Lifting these restrictions will greatly help American workers, increasing wages by more than $30 billion over the next 7 years.
Sound energy policy begins with the recognition that we have vast untapped domestic energy reserves right here in America. The Trump Administration will embrace the shale oil and gas revolution to bring jobs and prosperity to millions of Americans. (does he have no understanding of energy market?) We must take advantage of the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own. (does he not know the havoc in ND during Bakken BOOM!, the many Bakken BOOM! train explosions, pollution, and deaths? And he’d allow corporations to take OUR land?) We will use the revenues from energy production (a production tax increase?) to rebuild our roads, schools, bridges and public infrastructure. Less expensive energy will be a big boost to American agriculture, as well.
The Trump Administration is also committed to clean coal technology, and to reviving America’s coal industry, which has been hurting for too long. (again market forces, coal is not least cost, and new coal is way beyond anything market would support. “Clean” coal? Don’t even think about it, it doesn’t exist!)
In addition to being good for our economy, boosting domestic energy production is in America’s national security interest. President Trump is committed to achieving energy independence from the OPEC cartel and any nations hostile to our interests. At the same time, we will work with our Gulf allies to develop a positive energy relationship as part of our anti-terrorism strategy.
Lastly, our need for energy must go hand-in-hand with responsible stewardship of the environment. Protecting clean air and clean water, conserving our natural habitats, and preserving our natural reserves and resources will remain a high priority. President Trump will refocus the EPA on its essential mission of protecting our air and water. (everything I’ve seen and heard from Trump and EPA pick points towards dismantling and defunding EPA. What does this mean?)
A brighter future depends on energy policies that stimulate our economy, ensure our security, and protect our health. Under the Trump Administration’s energy policies, that future can become a reality.
An America First Energy Plan?
January 23rd, 2017
Contact Page for Trump’s White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
The Trump regime has published this “Energy Plan.” WHAT? Mitt Romney’s “Energy Plan” wasn’t much, and was grossly misguided, but it at least had SOME substance:
Romney’s Energy Plan – much ado about nothing
This is something a 5th grader could put together, nothing but blathering and slapped together code words. It shows no thought or understanding of energy in the U.S. today. I mean really, “clean coal” is so dead. During the Bush administration, they put billions in, between tax credits, grants, subsidies at state and federal levels — here’s a DOE announcement from 2006:
Energy Secretary and Secretary of the Treasury Announce the Award of $1 Billion in Tax Credits to Promote Clean Coal Power Generation and Gasification Technologies
The Bush Administration made coal gasification (IGCC) a priority, and even all that lobbying, subsidization, and wishful thinking couldn’t make it happen. Minnesota’s Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba Project is one example of that abject failure (see also www.camp-site.info). Delaware’s NRG coal gasification plant is another (note another NRG coal gasification plant proposed for NY went south too).
Meanwhile, existing coal is not economical, that’s why the older plants are being shut down, not anything to do with “Clean Power Plan,” and instead, that there’s a surplus of electricity and coal plants’ production costs a lot more than other available electric generation. The market says no! How does Trump think he can trump the market? And even if he could, how is that in our interest?
Here’s a map of MISO market — note all the blue on these maps — I love using these as wallpaper, a constant reminder:
Here’s the PJM market map:
And the joint MISO/PJM market map:
Coal cannot compete in the market, even with its outright and embedded regulatory subsidies, even the existing plants. There’s a glut of electricity, has been for a decade now. As Xcel’s Ben Fowkes says, recorded in the Seeking Alpha transcript of the XEL Earnings Call, January 31, 2013.
So…. drumroll…. Here it is, cut and pasted from the White House site in its entirety (emphasis added in red)(and parenthetical comments):
How clueless can Trump be? Well, we’re seeing… and it’s unbelievable… UNBELIEVABLE!
Frac waste injection, seismic activity, and agency subpoenas
September 3rd, 2016
BIG earthquake in Oklahoma today, and are we surprised? Naaaaah… Here’s the info, including location, economic impacts, etc., from USGS:
CLICK HERE: USGS Pawnee, OK Earthquake Page
In the news, and they’re making the link between gas wells and earthquakes:
Earthquake Rattles Oklahoma; One Of Strongest Recorded In State
Earthquake Shakes Swath of Country Where Wells Have Drawn Scrutiny
IMPORTANT: The Oklahoma Corporation Commission takes action!
Oklahoma Corporation Commission orders disposal wells shut down near quake epicenter
Consider why fracking and injection of frac waste is allowed… Why is a pipeline route through earthquake prone area considered? The impacts of fracking and waste injection is one thing they do NOT want to acknowledge. From KOTV in June 2014 — USGS should know better:
And when searching, look at this — can you believe:
OGS: Earthquake risk low for proposed disposal wells in Yukon
When the topic of earthquakes and other seismic activity comes up, I always recommend the “bible” of injection into the earth, because this is not a new phenomenon and we’re making this happen, putting people and our water supply at risk:
When I got this book, it was an older edition, though pricey, but with patience, it could be had for $20. For about a decade now I’ve been recommending this book, and look at the price now. Out of bounds for most of us… funny how that works. I’d guess a library could find a copy, and here it is on google books, “only” $224.00 (GRRRRRRRRRR):
Gas migration: events preceding earthquakes
Elisa Young, a cohort in Ohio, has lived in the epicenter of frack injection triggered earthquakes around Youngstown. There, after so many earthquakes, the causal connection was acknowledged, but it took too long. Here’s a Legalectric post from four years ago:
Ohio Earthquakes & Fracking
And now for a complicated sidebar. Elisa Young asked today how to get the state and federal agencies to communicate about this problem and take action. How? Damned if I know — impacts of injecting gas and liquids into the earth are well known. Yet federal and state agencies are in serious state of denial. And it’s very difficult at times to get the agencies to show up, to do their job. It’s even difficult to get their analysis, their own reports, into project permit dockets. I get really tired of this…
How to get them to weigh in? In Public Utilities Commission dockets in Minnesota, I’ve had a hard time with state agencies, initially. For example, in Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba Project docket, there was a claim that coal gasification was “clean” yet the Minnesota Pollution Agency had not, and would not, weigh in on the emissions projected for this coal gasification power plant. WHAT? We pushed and pushed, threatened to subpoena, raised this at a PUC meeting, and finally, the PUC issued an Order and wrote a letter to the PCA Commissioner requesting the MPCA lend its expertise to the Commission and show up!
And a Legalectric post about later subpoena requests on the Mesaba Project:
And subpoena and Data Practices Act requests in that same docket for financial information:
I’ve had similar issues in transmission dockets, where the DOT and DNR would file Comments on environmental scoping, and/or the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, but those Comments would only be sent to the Dept. of Commerce, and were not posted in the PUC docket, so parties and the public had no idea the concerns the agencies may have. NOT OK. During the first CapX 2020 routing docket, Brookings 08-1474, it was so egregious, I asked the DOT General Counsel who was present to make comments at the public hearing, and to submit a copy for the routing docket record (the route ultimately turned on DOT easements and that DOT would not allow the transmission line to be built over those easements). The matter was remanded by the Commission for rehearing based on their routing quandry. Shortly after, on behalf of No CapX 2020, I subpoenaed testimony and Comments.
Subpoena requests sent! (DOT & DNR)
Subpoena plot thickens (Agreement to testify)
Subpoena request for US Fish & Wildlife
Subpoena Denied(tried to get USFWS, didn’t work. USFWS Comments had been hidden in EIS Comments)
Notes from Friday
In the Goodhue Wind docket (permit granted, and then much later revoked!):
Goodhue Wind Truth – Subpoena Requests for Bjorklund and Bull
ALJ Sheehy’s Letter to Overland – Denial of Subpoena Requests
When this was attempted in the Sandpiper Pipeline docket, the ALJ denied the Subpoena request. WHAT?
And an interesting back and forth with a hearing officer about getting information into the record and whether it would take a subpoena to get it, where ultimately, the ALJ agreed that the primary documents would be entered in the record:
And here’s an aside, use of subpoena regarding Xcel’s plans for coal, served by NY’s A.G.:
New York A.G. serves Xcel with subpoena
DOE “Consent-Based” Nuclear Waste Mtg.
July 22nd, 2016
![20160721_172836[1]](https://legalectric.org/f/2016/07/20160721_1728361.jpg)
Well, that was interesting… and it took all evening!
First a sidebar, but an important one. The Agenda CBS Public Meeting-Minneapolis caught my attention, seeing PUC Commissioner John Tuma named front and center. The PUC’s page on Commissioner ex parte, conflict, and basic decorum has disappeared — I called the PUC about Commissioner Tuma’s appearance (fair warning, prior to event), and noted that the page had disappeared. Here are the rules (the page was what stressed the importance of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety:
7845.0400 CONFLICT OF INTEREST; IMPROPRIETY.
Subpart 1. General behavior.
A commissioner or employee shall respect and comply with the law and shall behave in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the commission’s decision making process.
Subp. 2. Actions prohibited.
Commissioners and employees shall avoid any action that might result in or create a conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety, including:
A. using public office for private gain;
B. giving preferential treatment to an interested person or entity;
C. impeding the efficiency or economy of commission decision making;
D. losing independence or impartiality of action;
E. making a commission decision outside official channels; and
F. affecting adversely the confidence of the public in the integrity of the commission.
7845.0700 PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.
Subp. 4. Outside employment.
A commissioner or employee shall not negotiate for or accept outside employment or other involvement in a business or activity that will impair the person’s independence of judgment in the exercise of official duties.
I registered this in a Comment section, provided copies of the rules, and expected something similar to Commissioner Koppendrayer’s response in a similar situation years ago (see below). Commissioner Tuma is new, and being there was not the worst of possible activities, other past and present Commissioners have done much worse, but it’s not OK. His presence on the panel, on the stage, lends the impression of support of the DOE’s efforts, and nuclear waste, nuclear decommissioning funds, nuclear uprates and rehab, all are issues that have been and will be in front of the Commission in highly contested cases. It lends the appearance of losing independence, impartiality, and impairment of judgment in future exercise of official duties.
I’ve seen this a few times. One positive experience was at the Sawmill Inn when Commissioner Koppendrayer was named on a coal gasification love-fest panel when Excelsior’s Mesaba Project was before the PUC, and I’d called the Commission ahead of time and spoken to the then Asst. A.G. who said, not to worry, they knew ex parte and conflict of interest and rules of decorum. Yet at that meeting, which Koppendrayer DID attend despite advance warning, I jumped up and objected from the back of the room, noting the PUC’s focus on avoiding even the appearance of impropriety, and Koppendrayer said something like “Overland’s got a point, and I should leave” and he did! He earned quite a few “respect” points that day. IEDC gets carried away February 15, 2007.
On the other hand, I’m also remembering Commissioner Phyllis Reha’s coal gasification junket to Belgium via Great Plains Institute, a well-funded toady for coal gasification (and GPI was on panel last night, another cause for concern, how much were they paid!). How blatant can you get? MCGP Request for Recusal (Commission saw no problem!).
… and there’s her stumping for CapX 2020 transmission: PUC Commissioner Reha: Enhancing the Nation’s Electricity Delivery System. That was the basis of another Motion, but of course, Commissioner Reha and the Commission saw no problem with her actions! NoCapX Motion to Recuse Commissioner Reha & Exhibit A – Reha Power Point Presentation.
And then there’s Great Plains Institute’s involvement. After their intense and well funded toadying for coal gasification ($437,000 over 21 months), and transmission, and then Xcel Energy’s e21, Dog help us! Anything GPISD in involved with has got my attention, and not in a good way!
Last night’s agenda was packed, and we got a lot done. A guy name Scott Thomas (the NSP engineer perhaps?) was at my table and jumped up and objected when we had a bit of opposition theater, I jumped up to counter, DOH, every hear of freedom of speech. I mean really, it took all of 5 minutes, let people speak up!
Here’s my comment, in large part based on “consent” a la SNUY’s approach for sexual consent, substituting “nuclear” for sexual — if we’re going to get screwed, this is the best possible of consent definitions:
Here’s the DOE’s Consent-Based Siting page. Notice was in the Federal Register, who reads that? Invitation for Public Comment in the Federal Register. Comments are being taken through July 31 or email to them at consentbasedsiting@hq.doe.gov.
Here’s how they’re framing it, with questions to be answered:
- How can the Department ensure that the process for selecting a site is fair?
- What models and experience should the Department use in designing the process?
- Who should be involved in the process for selecting a site, and what is their role?
- What information and resources do you think would facilitate your participation?
- What else should be considered?
We broke into small groups and actually had a pretty good discussion. Peggy Rehder, Red Wing City Council, was also at “Table 2” and of course we’re disagreeing. She’s frustrated at having spent 6 years on this and getting nowhere, but in terms of nuclear waste, 6 years is but a second or two… I’ve got 22 years in, and some there had many more. A key point was that the DOE must restore trust if it wants to get anywhere, and how would that happen? Stopping production of more nuclear waste is a key step. Dream on… this process is a move to enable continued generation of nuclear waste, continued operation of nuclear plants, now being relicensed, uprated, nuclear waste expanded.
Prairie Island’s President Shelly Buck was on the panel, and that was good — PIIC is in such a mess, the plant and nuclear waste right next door, and they’ve been screwed over so many ways, so many times. Will they be regarded as a “stakeholder” this time around? They’ve intervened in so many nuclear matters, doing everything they can to protect the Community…
Parts of it were webcast. There will be a video of the evening’s festivities sometime, LINK HERE (when it’s posted, scroll down to “Minneapolis”) and there was a photographer snapping shots every few seconds (hmmmm, well, I guess that will be added to all our files!).
Karen Hadden, SEED Coalition (that SEED Coalition grew from Energy Foundation funding, same as MN’s defunct “SEED Coalition” which morphed into “RE-AMP” about 2005), was present, and vocal (YES!), regarding their concerns about nuclear waste siting in Texas and New Mexico, particularly about a recent application to NRC for a nuclear waste storage facility in western Texas, near the New Mexico border. See www.NoNuclearWasteAqui.org for more info.
Alan Muller, environmental consultant in Minnesota, and Exec. Dir. of Green Delaware, spoke of his having TWO Prairie Island reactors on the other side of town here in Red Wing, and the THREE Salem and Hope Creek reactors, visible from the office window in Port Penn, Delaware.
Here’s the Arizona meeting, CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HERE. Well worth the listen, the panel is much better qualified than the one in Minnesota (with the exception of Prairie Island’s Shelly Buck, and Canada’s Kathryn Shaver from their Adaptive Phases Management Engagement and Site Selection, Nuclear Waste Management Organization, listen up to them when Mpls. video is released).
Take some time and consider the DOE’s informational booklet. Put your thoughts together and send in comments: consentbasedsiting@hq.doe.gov.
I think it’s worth trotting out the EQB Citizens Advisory Task Force report on nuclear waste, from the Florence Township Nuclear Waste Daze:
Florence Twp Site – Citizens Advisory Task Force – Nuclear Dry Cask Storage
And also thing about the many casks on Prairie Island — those TN-40s and TN-29 have aluminum seals that need to be replaced EVERY 20 YEARS, and to my knowledge they’ve not been replaced, and there are casks that have been loaded and sitting there for more than 20 years. What’s up with that? What’s the plan? Back when they were permitting that, there was no plan. So…
Consider this 3 Stooges approach to cask unloading — don’t know of any other attempt to unload casks, maybe that’s one of the lessons learned here:
Here’s an INEL report on a TN24 leak:
And an NRC report on unloading:
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 97-51: PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH LOADING AND UNLOADING SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION CASKS
Here’s an EPRI report on (these technical reports are important!) Creep and Crud, which occurs with storage:
Here’s a report generated after the “ignition event” at Pt. Beach, where spent fuel was loaded in a cask, then set out of the pool, and let sit overnight, then they attempted to well it, well, welding cask full of bubbles of hydrogen from the interaction of zinc and the acidic solution the assemblies are sitting in, left overnight, BOOM!
Where are all the reports about the weld flaws on the VSC-24 casks? They’re in Pt. Beach, Palisades, and Arkansas One.
And here’s a report relevant to us here in Minnesota, given all our granite and our “2nd place” position in the federal site selection resulting in “choice” of Yucca Mountain:
Three Musketeers? Three Stooges?
June 30th, 2015
Oh… My… DOG! Imagine Julie Jorgensen, Dennis Egan, and Mark Andrew, all for one, and one for all! Where does the public fit in?
I love solar, but with these three, their track records, lobbying shenanigans, and their public project and public money magnetism, I’m going to take a very careful and skeptical look.
More solar could be coming
Julie Jorgensen (Julie Jorgensen CV ) was a Chief co-conspirator in the Excelsior Energy Mesaba Project, thankfully now virtually defunct (discounting its zombie qualities. For more information go to www.legalectric.org and search “Excelsior Energy” or “Mesaba Project” or “Julie Jorgensen” or “Tom Micheletti” or “boondoggle” or “coal gasification” or “carbon capture” or “sequestration” or “IRRRB” or just “IRR” or “Iron Range Resources” or “Renewable Development Fund” and of course go to the Citizens Against the Mesaba Project www.camp-site.info and settle in for a good read. And from a little over a year ago — zillow.com says it sold, but who knows the real story:
Tom & Julie’s house is for sale February 2nd, 2014
And this on the money they sucked out of the IRRB… how much has been written off? And then there’s the state’s “Renewable Development Fund” Again! Legislative Auditor on IRRRB! April 19th, 2015
And Dennis Egan, he’s front man on solar projects HERE? In Red Wing??? Well, for sure he’s no longer ED of Minnesota Industrial Sand Council (that’s a google cache, I got a 404, “the site is crashed and should be repaired.” It might be different by the time you see this, I’ll check tomorrow).
April Fool on April Fools Day! April 1st, 2013
Mayor Egan Resigns March 7th, 2013
Where’s the Mayor’s resignation letter? March 4th, 2013
7p TONIGHT – Red Wing City Council Meeting February 25th, 2013
Mayor Egan to resign? Sand mining bill introduced! February 23rd, 2013
Last Mayor Egan post before Council meeting February 11th, 2013
KARE 11 turns up the heat on RW Mayor Egan February 7th, 2013
Red Wing Mayor Egan exposed February 6th, 2013
Mayor Egan – the voice of frac sand mining! February 5th, 2013
And then there’s garbologist Mark Andrew, champion of the HERC garbage burner in downtown Minneapolis.
Here’s some info about his garbage burner:
At a Mayoral debate, he did an inventive Al Gore:
And Mpls. garbage divides mayoral hopefuls – MPR News. Needless to say he didn’t get the job.
And now, these three are selling solar in the Red Wing area. What are they cooking up? Read the fine print very carefully, and keep all the public money tied down.
Here’s why it’s good the Mesaba Project was not built!
June 14th, 2015
Remember the Excelsior Energy Mesaba Project (see Legalectric posts and Citizens Against the Mesaba Project’s “Camp Site”), the boondoggle coal gasification plant that almost was, the project that got every legislative perk possible, got financing and grants based on wishful thinking and that “something else” that we just can’t identify (without which, who would think this was a good idea? That plant that was to be built, according to the special legislation for this project, on a site WITH INFRASTRUCTURE? This site… dig the infrastructure!
Anyway, it wasn’t built here. But a similar plant WAS built in Indiana, the Edwardsport plant owned by Duke Energy. As with the Mesaba Project it was proposed at a reasonable price, legislators were first told $700 million, and then it went upwards of $2.11 billion. For Edwardsport, same story, and that price kept going up, up, up, and in Indiana, it was so extreme that costs recoverable from ratepayers were capped by the Indiana Public Utility Commission at $2.9 BILLION. It was allowed to be built, and it started operating, sort of… Average output has been 41%, when an 80+% capacity factor was promised. Repairs? That’s putting it mildly. Now they’re going to try to get cost recovery for that.
Now, let’s not all forget all the money given by the Joyce Foundation to support this nonsense.
+++++++++++++
Here’s a specific and eloquent comment from Michael Mullet, very involved in opposition to the Edwardsport fiasco: