Legalectric

Comments are due RIGHT NOW on the Environmental Assessment for the Grant County Solar, LLC project before Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission.

Here’s the Environmental Assessment and the PSC’s determination that no EIS is needed (HA! We know better!):

And so here are the Grant County Intervenors comments, just filed:

Whew, long day… and another tomorrow!

COVID is on the rise in Minnesota, hospitalizations are far above the first wave peak:

Hospital beds, STAFFED hospital beds, ICU beds, are running short, per Gov. Walz’ presentation yesterday:

Here’s the snapshot in Goodhue County:

From the County:

Goodhue County issues pandemic appeal to stop community spread

And DOH:

The most effective ways to reduce the spread of the virus are to limit in-person gatherings, wash hands, stay at least six feet away from others, and to wear a face mask every time you are around people from outside your household.

Want to know how intense COVID is in your county, and the relative risk of a COVID infected person in a gathering? Check this out (I set it at 25, because if you go to a store, it’s easy to have 25 people in the area):

https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/

The Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line is in the news — federal court hearing was yesterday… and a most interesting admission by ATC’s attorney Brian Potts:

Brian Potts, an attorney for ATC with the Madison office of international firm Perkins Coie, noted Monday that his client is not actually going to use the transmission line and is only building it for a rate of return over the next 40 years, comparing the situation to entities that build and operate highways for public use.

Got that? “… only building it for a rate of return over the next 40 years…” That’s what we’ve been arguing since CapX 2020! It’s NOT needed!

Read the article here:

Federal Judge Hears Challenge to Massive Multistate Power Line

Attempt at historical revision:

One more Executive Order to be undone by the Biden administration.

Xcel Energy spent a LOT of time yesterday filing its rate case, and a month ago, same. I can’t download all the filings, so here’s how to look:

• Go to PUC site and click on “eDockets“
• Go to this part of screen:

• It’s docket 20-723, so at “-Select-” enter “20” and under “Number” enter 723.

Xcel has been raising raising raising rates, and wanting to use a “business plan” rather than cost-based rates. Not exactly to ratepayers benefit, that idea.

Check it out. There will be hearings someday in the future. Maybe this time we can also get a hearing in Red Wing!