Onward with PUC Certificate of Need and Routing Rulemaking
August 19th, 2015
We’ve been working on the rules for the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s chapters covering Certificate of Need and Siting/Routing of electric utility infrastructure, ranging from transmission to power plants. WHEW! It takes forever, and thus far it’s been over two and a half years, just for the “pre-Commission-sends-it-out-for-comments” rulemaking advisory group part.
Who cares about rules? Well I do, as to many others who have been dealing with Certificate of Need and Routing/Siting issues over the years. It’s important because so many things are wrong with the process, from awkward to just plain wrong/unfair, even in light of the enabling statutes for these rules (rules need to operate within some pretty restrictive statutory framing).
This is, again, still informal, and PUC is open to any and all comments, ones on point, that is, and so comment on specific language, and suggest specific language! Here’s the latest (and I’ve filed them on the PUC site):
To see the versions and comments thus far, go to the PUC’s SEARCH PAGE HERE, and search for PUC Docket 12-1246.
To file comments, go HERE and file. If you’re not registered to file, go HERE and register and file! It’s that easy, almost instantaneous!
Comments due on Tiller… errr… Titan Lansing sand plant
August 19th, 2015
Air Permits at the MPCA! Time to sit right down and write a Comment to the MPCA about the Titan Lansing sand processing and loading facility in North Branch. Scroll down for the primary documents.
Send Comments, by Friday, August 28, 2015, to:
Andrew Luberda
email: andrew.lubera@state.mn.us
Air Quality Permits Section Industrial Division
MN Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafeyette Road North
St Paul MN 55155
The notice does not list an email for Luberda or a MPCA comment url, so I called him up to get his email. I asked if they’d correct this omission, and got a non-responsive response.
Tiller Sand transloading facility… If you recall, this was that Tiller Sand facility that they built and started operating WITHOUT ANY PERMITS, just went ahead and did it. That said, their history isn’t exactly as pristine as… well… as pristine as frac sand!
January 25, 2013 – Tiller Corp. is penalized for air-quality violations
November 20, 2014 – Tiller Corporation penalized for air-quality violations
Then it was sold to Titan Lansing in November 2014 (see comments about air quality and permits in this article).
In the Chisago County Press here’s the poop about the MPCA Air Permit and info on how to file a Comment, great info about various Comment and administrative options (not that the MPCA ever does contested cases):
Here’s the scoop from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency:
Open for public comment through Friday, August 28, 2015. Send Comments to:
Andrew Luberda
email: andrew.lubera@state.mn.us
Air Quality Permits Section Industrial Division
MN Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafeyette Road North
St Paul MN 55155
Militarization of policing in Red Wing and Goodhue County?
August 17th, 2015
In what world is something like this needed or wanted in a 16,000 population city like Red Wing, or in a rural county like Goodhue County? What would be the envisioned purpose?
Goodhue County and the City of Red Wing have applied for Homeland Security money to buy one of these, a Lenco Bearcat. Cost is $332,246.00. They call the current one the “PeaceKeeper” armored vehicle. They’re saying it’s too slow, and they’ve been having problems with it. I saw it cruising toward downtown on West Ave. a few years ago, and was stunned, didn’t know they had one here — I mean really, whatever for?!?! Meth labs? Militaristic cults? The Republican National Convention contractual obligations? Folks, this isn’t St. Paul…
I’ve heard that the Goodhue County vote recently was that it would not opt in to this grant, but that there is another vote about it. Red Wing will decide soon.
Goodhue County Commissioners (for your cut and pasting pleasure): ron.allen@co.goodhue.mn.us, brad.anderson@co.goodhue.mn.us, dan.rechtzigel@co.goodhue.mn.us, jason.majerus@co.goodhue.mn.us, ted.seifert@co.goodhue.mn.us
City of Red Wing Mayor and Council (for your cut and pasting pleasure): dan.bender@ci.red-wing.mn.us, jsebion3@gmail.com , lisa.bayley@ci.red-wing.mn.us, deanhove@charter.net, dan.munson@ci.red-wing.mn.us, peggy.rehder@ci.red-wing.mn.us, ralph.rauterkus@ci.red-wing.mn.us, dustin.schulenberg@ci.red-wing.mn.us
A memo to the County Board from a Sheriff’s Deputy states:
The Emergency Response Team uses an armored vehicle on every mission and at events that may take place at the PINGP.
What does this mean? How many “missions” and what are the details? The phrase “at events that may take place at the PINGP” is odd — please explain! Does this mean response to nuclear emergencies? Does this mean response to Xcel Energy security concerns? If this is about the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, shouldn’t Xcel Energy be paying for it? They’ll probably say that these expenses are what the Utility Personal Property Tax is for, but I don’t think that’s how it works, it’s a separate issue!
City of Red Wing – CP_Project_Detail_M-Port_Auth-LencoBearcat
Again, cost is $332,246.00. For this amount, the County and City could buy roughly 10 fully equipped squad cars (based on this linked Goodhue County purchase of 4). Think of the computer equipment they could buy with that kind of money!
This is overkill, it is not needed in Red Wing, not needed in Goodhue County. This is not “policing,” but is militarization of policing. Not a trend I want in my community.
NEW route options for Plains and Eastern Clean Line?
August 11th, 2015
Yesterday, I received a missive about the Plains & Eastern Clean Line that was disconcerting to say the least. After all the Comment periods have closed, both DEIS and Section 1222, the DOE now says that based on comments received, there have been changes, and we get this:
Route Variations and Modified Converter Station Siting Areas
Route Variations Project Overview
Route Variations by Regions
Route Variation Sheet Maps
Modified Arkansas Converter Station Alternative Siting Area
Modified Tennessee Converter Station Siting Area
Here’s an example that makes no sense to me — look at the site for the so-called Arkansas Converter Station — it’s surrounded. Does DOE think it can ram through Wildlife Management Areas?
Given all this new information, where’s the announcement of opportunity to review and file DEIS Comments on this?
Given the alterations of routes, are new landowners affected? If so, where’s the announcement of opportunity to review the whole mess and file Section 1222 Comments?
ATXI shot down by Missouri Appellate Court
August 11th, 2015
Check out this great slap down of Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois by the Missouri Court of Appeals when Ameren challenged the lower court’s dismissal of their attempt to circumvent state regulation (thanks to Paul Henry for passing this on):
As you know, Missouri is the state that had the wherewithall to declare that Grain Belt Express and its Clean Line was not a utility. In this case, Ameren went in and said, with it seems quite a bit of arrogance, Missouri, don’t touch me, we don’t have to play with you, you don’t regulate me:
WOW, whew, that sure didn’t work for Ameren. Love it when that happens.
