Xcel’s in a bit of a bind…
February 18th, 2012
Of note for Minnesota, which needs all the property tax revenue it can get:
Yes, it’s $28 million and it’s both electric and gas. So even though it came out of the electric case, it’s for both businesses.
Demand is down down down and Xcel says they won’t need any more new generation until at least 2018. Well DUH! They filed an amendment to their IRP given that the situation is sooooooo bad.
Something I found interesting, aside from their projections of load growth that are down the toilet:
The most important information is fundamental data regarding the status of the economy and projections of economic growth.
And lack thereof:
We now expect 0.7% annual demand growth and 0.5% annual energy growth over the Resource Plan horizon, down from 1.1% and 0.9%, respectively, included in our initial filing. The magnitude of the reduced forecast is such that it prompts us to reconsider some components of our Five Year Action Plan.
Which means:
We do not expect additional generation will be needed on our system until 2018.
Well DUH! And that’s a full year after Mikey Bull had estimated at that big LS Power meeting in Chisago! So I’d guess that if they’ll admit that, it’s really 2020 or further out. And remember CapX 2020 is based on a 2.49% annual increase? Right…
They had issued an RFP for wind, but they don’t need or want it now:
Currently we have significant installed generation and a bank of renewable energy credits that we can use to satisfy our renewable energy requirements. To the extent the PTC expires and wind prices increase as expected, we will be able to rely on our installed generation and banked RECs rather than adding uneconomic wind generation.
DUH!
They also note that they’ve lost some wholesale customers, which is also noted in this week’s FERC filing, a Complaint against Xcel, where p. 11 of the complaint they state they lost 9 wholesale customers in Wisconsin and Michigan. For more on that, go to NoCapX 2020:
CATFIGHT! Xcel and ATC go at it at FERC
Frac sand issue ramping up in Winona
February 16th, 2012
From the Winona Daily News:
I’m buried in CapX Wisconsin right now, BUT this came across the screen, do check it out:
We have a frac sand mine proposed here, just south of Red Wing in Hay Creek, and that’s going over like a lead balloon. Same for Winona.
It’s that time of year again…
February 13th, 2012
… first it’s Alan’s Birthday, now officially an old fart and then some. And then it’s Valentine’s Day, and he just gave me the bestest gift of all:
… a succinct analysis of WI Public Service Commission staff Neumeyer’s testimony!!!
AWWWWWWWWW, what a guy, it’s just what I wanted!!!
Oh, SUMMER!!!
February 10th, 2012
I know, TMI, but our dear Summer-doggy really did it this time.
Three months ago or so, we blamed Little Sadie for chewing the tails off the Wubba, we found it tail-less on the floor of the van, lost until this appeared at the “tail” end of a “Summerhenge” a couple days ago:
SUMMER ATE IT… OH MY DOG!!! … and it took months to go through… so DUH, ex post facto we checked the van, and there are indeed two of the tails still missing…
Are they in the dog?
Just now, all three were in the van for a bit when we went to lunch, and here’s what we found on taking them back into the house: NO LEASH!
SUMMER!!!! There is no trace of any part of the leash in the van, not a thread. This little red piece is all that’s left.
SUMMER!!!! We can’t afford surgery on you! Now what? And there’s no vet on duty tomorrow… we shall see…
For now, she’s on the floor in her favorite spot, snorin’ and fartin’ as usual, always under my desk or she shoves the lamp out of the way so her big butt fits in the corner. We’re supposed to feed her canned pumpkin, that’s supposed to be good for moving things around. And call if emergency…
It’ll probably appear in April!
BIG transmission line from Canada
February 10th, 2012
A little birdie gave me a heads up yesterday… as if a big ol’ MinnCan tar sands pipeline wasn’t enough, now Minnesota Power wants to build a transmission line… make that TWO. There’s a 500kV line coming down from Canada to somewhere on the range, maybe Hibbing, and then there’s a double circuited 345kV from the west to Duluth. Fifty miles west of Duluth, that will start where???
Tell me this, MP, if this is intended to bring in hydro as a backup to wind, are you then shutting down the coal plant in Cohasset? Or are you going to be selling it on the market?
And here it is in the STrib:
Canada-to-Iron Range power line proposed
Article by: DAVID SHAFFER , Star Tribune
Updated: February 9, 2012 – 8:30 PMThe Duluth-based company, a division of Allete Inc., said it filed an intent to pursue the project with the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO), which manages the electrical grid in 11 states and Manitoba.
The project is tied to Minnesota Power’s agreement to purchase 250 megawatts of hydropower from Winnipeg-based Manitoba Hydro beginning in 2020. The power from Manitoba hydroelectric dams will serve as a backup to intermittent wind power generated at Minnesota Power’s wind farms in North Dakota.
Minnesota Power said the 500-kilovolt line would run south from Winnipeg and connect to a substation on the Mesabi Iron Range serving the taconite and paper industries.
Minnesota Power spokeswoman Amy Rutledge said the utility will consider building along existing transmission lines to reduce disruption. Xcel Energy Inc., based in Minneapolis, owns one transmission link to Canada, and Minnesota Power is sole or part owner of two others, she said.
Separately, Minnesota Power said it is evaluating with American Transmission Co. a proposed 50-mile, 345-kilovolt line from the Iron Range to Duluth. The cost and ownership shares of the projects have not been determined, the utility said.