Legalectric

Comments are due Sunday, April 14, 2019 (11:59!):

Here’s the DEIS in full:

Note the “need” section beginning on p. 49. It’s dependent on MISO — yes, that MISO, the one that blessed the so dramatically overstated “need” for the CapX 2020 build-out… the MISO that claims “need” when its LMP Coutour map is nearly always a bright or dark blue! The MISO that is all about “market” which has nothing to do with “need.” This section takes it back to “Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative” (hard to tell their mission, eh? But we know it was all about coal). If they’re going to go back to the history of this big transmission build-out, methinks that, particularly in Wisconsin, they should go back to the Wisconsin Reliability Assessment Organization (WRAO) Report that laid out the wish list of the transmission build-out.

Now, head to p. 80, Section 3.9, entitled “Applicants’ Alternatives to the Proposed Project.” This section presents ONLY the APPLICANTS’ alternatives, they get to determine what is or is not an alternatives, the parameters. Show me where it says in the WI statutes or rules that it only the APPLICANTS’ choice of alternatives to be considered?

Folks, we’ve got a lot of work to do…

This just came over the wire — and I so look forward to this presentation. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, and I sure hope every city-connected person attends!

On Thursday, April 18^th, beginning at 6 pm at the Sheldon Theatre, Professor David Schultz will come to present on three topics including:

• The role of staff versus the role of the elected official/volunteer
• The open meeting law
• Conflict of interest as it relates to state law

Professor Schultz is a renowned educator and is considered an expert in these areas.  He is a Politicial Science professor at Hamline University and a law professor through the University of Minnesota Law School.  Links to his biographies from his respective universities are listed below.

Schultz’ Bio:
https://www.law.umn.edu/profiles/david-schultz

This training is a result of feedback we have heard from commission members who want to know more about these topics, and attendance is strongly encouraged.  This is an excellent opportunity to get your questions answered and increase your understanding and effectiveness as a commission member; we hope to see you there.

Thursday afternoon, the Friday PSC meeting was abruptly cancelled. Why? Well…

Thursday, there was an important court decision in Dane County, where the judge blasted the “lame duck session” where the R’s did everything they could to limit powers of the new Evers administration.

Following judge’s ruling, Tony Evers rescinds 82 Scott Walker appointees during lame duck session.

And one of those appointees was PSC Commissioner Ellen Nowak!

A little birdie told me that decisions made while she was a Commissioner may be at issue too!

She’d been on since 2011, and snuck in again during the lame duck session. From the PSC’s site:

Ellen Nowak was first appointed to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission in July 2011 by Governor Scott Walker. She was reconfirmed for a new, six-year term beginning on March 1, 2013. Commissioner Nowak was named Chairperson of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in March of 2015. In March of 2018 Governor Walker appointed her as Secretary of the Department of Administration. She served in that role until the end of the Governor’s term and was then reappointed as chairperson on the PSC in January 2019.

BYE! Don’t let the screen door hit you!

Oh joy! It never ends. Just got notice that Invenergy’s Freeborn Wind is at the MN Public Utilities Commission… on April Fools Day! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

Notice that they’re only giving a nod to Invenergy’s “Request for Clarification” which is there “Hey! You didn’t give us everything in our back-door agreement!” filing.

And from the looks of it, this is all that the Commission is considering, just the comments since the latest Order was released:

1. PUC – Order – 2-26-2019, 2. FWE – Response – 2-27-2019, 3. 1 FWE – Comments – 3-4-2019, 4. 2 FWE – Comments – 3-4-2019, 5. 3 FWE – Comments – 3-4-2019, 6. DOC – Comments – 3-11-2019, 7. AFCL – Motion to Strike – 3-11-2019, 8. AFCL – Comments – 3-11-2019

CANCELLED – TOMORROW’S MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Received phone call from PSC Counsel, and it’s on their event calendar.

TOMORROW! Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) is set to decide whether the 300 MW Badger Hollow solar project should be issued a CPCN. This is the biggest solar project in the Midwest, and it’s proposed for prime ag land, in “Exclusive Agricultural” zoning, and the PSC has NO solar siting rules. WHAT? We tried, filed a Petition for Rulemaking, but they tossed it out. Who needs rules for siting…

Something I don’t understand about Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission — they don’t give adequate notice for their meetings. I checked yesterday, nada, but today, the notice for TOMORROW’S meeting is now posted.

We’re items 6-8. The meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. (oh my, another early start this week!), and I’ve seen them ram through docket after docket at breakneck speed, sooooo, heading east at “too early o’clock.”

To check the dockets for these projects, go to HERE: PSC HOME PAGE SEARCH and search for:

• Project-Site CPCN: 9697-CE-100
• Project-Transmission: CPCN 9697-CE-101
• Acquisition Docket: 5-BS-228