Legalectric

What a meeting that was (hmmmm, won’t ebed), the “Permitting Reform Stakeholders Report” starts at 30:30, and whew, at 1:36 !!!:

https://minnesotapuc.granicus.com/player/clip/2303?view_id=2&redirect=true&h=fa21951a27fee09bbfc35bb780443b66

And look who’s been appointed to the Commission — Hwikwon Ham! They couldn’t have made a better choice, he knows transmission and the electric industry, the technicalities, the economics, the background and reality.

Here’s the Governor’s press release:

Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Announce Appointment to the Public Utilities Commission

January 3, 2024

[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the appointment of Hwikwon Ham to serve as a commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

“Hwikwon Ham brings technical expertise and a deep knowledge of Minnesota’s energy grid to the PUC,” said Governor Walz. “I’m confident he will hit the ground running, leading the clean energy transition and providing Minnesotans with efficient and reliable utility services.”

“We are excited to have Hwikwon Ham join the PUC,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “His institutional knowledge and dedication to the commission will be key to ensuring the future of Minnesota energy is strong.”

“I thank Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan for giving me a chance to serve the people of Minnesota,” said Hwikwon Ham. “I will ensure that Minnesotans have reliable and affordable service from their utilities, while positioning Minnesota as a national leader in the clean energy transition.”

Hwikwon Ham is a supervisor for the regional energy program within the PUC. He previously served as energy facilities planning director with the commission. Prior to his tenure with the PUC, he was an energy rates analyst with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. He earned an M.A. in economics from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“Hwikwon Ham’s service to Minnesotans as an expert on the reliability and resiliency of the grid will make him an outstanding public utilities commissioner,” said PUC Chair Katie Sieben. “His training in economics and his deep knowledge of Minnesota’s energy system will enable him to meaningfully contribute to the many complex decisions the Minnesota Commission will make in the years ahead.”

“We need a PUC commissioner who has the expertise and independence to move projects forward that will put our members to work. Hwikwon Ham understands the energy system and is ready to step right in and ensure we can move the energy transition forward in a way that is affordable, reliable and benefits workers and businesses,” said Jason George, business manager and financial secretary, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49.

“Fresh Energy congratulates Hwikwon Ham on his appointment,” said Dr. Brenda Casselius, executive director of Fresh Energy. “With his extensive experience serving the public interest in multiple state agency roles, Ham brings a deep technical understanding of utility markets, economics, and planning to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission—all of which will be key assets for the commission as it takes critical steps to equitably usher in Minnesota’s 100% clean electricity standard and statewide greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission regulates the electricity, natural gas, and telephone services industries in Minnesota – ensuring safe, reliable, and effective utility services. The PUC is a five-member body with legislative and quasi-judicial functions.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thoughts on a cool January day:

The meeting is tomorrow, beginning at 10 a.m. at the PUC, though transmission projects is up first.

Webcast here: https://minnesotapuc.granicus.com/player/event/3521?&redirect=true

Here’s the report from the “stakeholder” meetings held on October 6 and 30, and November 20th. Not one of the “stakeholders” has intervened in a transmission or other siting proceeding challenging a project. Where’s the public interest in this?

Not one of the “stakeholders” has intervened in any transmission proceeding challenging the project:

Some of the brilliant ideas: — here’s the WORST:

It’s Wednesday, January 3rd, and you can listen live, STARTS AT 10 A.M. JANUARY 3rd:

CLICK FOR WEBCAST

Yes, folks, this is indeed a “Special” PUC planning meeting, featuring “Permitting Reform” — a “stakeholder” process held behind closed doors:

And here’s what they’ve made public, a “presentation” from Grid North Partners before the “Permitting Reform” streamlining effort:

And this?

MIA – Nothing posted yet.. though the report of Dan Lipschultz, “facilitator” is due sometime today.

Again, the link to the WEBCAST!

Taking Alan to and from Mayo, I’ve been seeing activity on the east and south side of Featherstone, essentially all the land from “Ryan & Gordy’s Glass” on the right, following Featherstone, and down to the bottom of this screenshot, along the bottom to the trees with lots there, Creekview Court, up along the row of houses along the Hillside Drive cul de sac, over “to the point of beginning:

And closer view — the guy who owns that land, it’s a permitted sand pit, where there’s not been ongoing sand mining for ages. The platted cul de sac is named after him, and he owns 3 or 4 lots in there, along Hillside Drive, particularly on the left hand side and the far end. And on the County GIS, you can see he’s using two of those lots to access the hill below — and note, he did NOT cut his big tree down, going around it, and it’s the only one left standing!

And a larger view, you can see the lot lines, the bottom parcel and the one to the left along Featherstone are lots that were mowed without permission, and note the Creekview residential lot lines on the very bottom, and lot lines going up the Hillside Drive cul de sac — it’s bare earth now to the north and west behind those lots! I’ll bet those homeowners are not pleased!

This area here, where Featherstone heads west, looking east, was this:

Now, it’s TOTALLY NUDE! This photo was taken in that little “driveway” parking area, facing the same way:

Looking straight on from Featherstone:

And all that brush and stuff you can see is down to bare earth:

Except where there were big trees yanked out, where there are 2-3 foot stumps that are 2-3 feet across — OLD trees were removed. Where the bulldozer is is bare ground, that’s what caught my attention, thinking of erosion, and the shame of clear-cutting. Anyway, here’s what it looks like, close up (I’ve not captured the big stumps, will get that later today):

Here’s what it looks like from the Mayo back parking lot:

Turns out the plot thickens going beyond those two landowners, the “mower” and “mowee.” See that row of homes up there straight ahead and to the right? Hillside Drive and Creekview Court? They’ve been directing their storm water down there, which wasn’t cool, but wasn’t as much of a problem, but now??? E-R-O-S-I-O-N, and they’re going to have to do something different. Rain barrels, channel into pond, whatever, just not run it down the hill.

Looks to me like the City needs to get on the “mower” about it, and the owner of the land who did NOT give permission for all that destruction on his land should get a tree appraiser and a land appraiser, and calculate the damages, figure out what it would take to restore to original condition, and how, with 20-30 years for growth, to address that. This will be very hard to “fix.” I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it, how someone could just go and do this, not only to his own land, but to another’s land.

It’s been a while, and time for an update.

• Alan’s doing well since landing in remission in June, following release from captivity June 23, and his numbers are great!
• We’re still isolating, masking always, but few ventures out into public.
• 28 day cycles continue until probably March, 8 cycles, with 2 one week delays so far.
• IV infusions of ARSENIC (arsenic trioxide) continue, daily weekdays of every other 28 day cycle. continues daily the first two weeks of every cycle (with arsenic cycle and alone in ATRA cycle).
• Alan was switched from PIC line to Port a few months ago, and that’s going well, makes infustions and blood draws so much easier, but ohhhh, it still gives me the willies.
• Financial details are a mess, but workable, and we’re probably not going to have to declare bankruptcy.
• Mayo figured out the coding for EKGs so UCare won’t continue overbilling! Time consuming with so many appeals, weekly EKG is ordered, and they screwed it up every week for a couple months.
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has provided a grant to cover some of the co-pays, which are enormous for infusions and ATRA Rx.
• Did I mention hospitalization, 8 months of daily treatment, masking and forever isolating, it’s exhausting?!?!

All things considered, it really could not have gone better, Alan’s recovery is amazing!

OPE! Time to head to Mayo today!