Xcel Energy, or Northern States Power, whichever, has filed its brief in the Routing docket for the Hiawatha Transmission Project.

Xcel/NSP Post-Hearing Brief

Xcel/NSP Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions

Also filed is Notice that the transcripts are now available at local libraries, a big help because the cost is prohibitive, they’re not free here as they are in WI or available via FOIA as they are in New Jersey (called OPRA there):

Notice – Transcripts are in the libraries

Which states:

I write to advise that the transcripts for the evidentiary hearings held in the Hiawatha Transmission Project routing proceeding on April 12 – 21 and April 26 – 30, 2010, have been placed in the following libraries: East Lake Library, Hosmer Library, Franklin Library, Central Library, and Roosevelt Library. We have also provided an extra copy to the Central Library with a request that it forward it to the Nokomis Branch once renovations are complete. The transmittal documents are enclosed.

So those of you writing briefs now know where to go!!!!

One of those days… the good news is that it wasn’t the van!

(cue the sighs)

I’ve had my Diamante for 5+ years, this brown one a replacement for the dark grey/almost black one that grenaded at 267k after nearly 6 years (colors to match the black & tan dog hair!).  This one only has 232k and though it’s got its minor problems, is going strong and I figured at least another 30, but maybe it could hit 300k!  Until this a.m. when Alan popped Kady in the jump seat and went down the bluff to get some parts for the boat he’s putting together:

… and this yahoo down the block backs out of his driveway without looking, and:

CRUNCH!

… and his response is to start bitching at Alan… Alan started walking back to the house to get his phone and the cops arrived before he even hit the top of the hill, the guy had called, and the cops have dealt with him before.  Kady supervised the scene, too bad there wasn’t a “K-9 Officer” for her to get acquainted with.  Suffice it to say “Parnelli” got a “Failure to Yield” out of it.

… and what did we get out of it?  Well, there’s the door …  it does open sort of, after a bit of a struggle, opens most of the way, with a several inch drop as it pops out of the frame, and it latches with a few serious slams, the bottom outer part is separated from the inside, the front bumper is a bit folded up, the mirror is all scraped up but not broken, but the worst of it is that there is a scary noise in the steering, turning, particularly to the right… sort of a scrapey rattley sound.

How much is this poor thing worth?  Kelley says $1,100-1,600, but fixing it would be SOOOOOO expensive that I don’t know that it’s worth it, a front bumper, fender and door and whatever is going on mechanically on an 18 year old car with 232k.  And I HATE dealing with insurance companies.  The insurance company would probably total it out (and we’re hoping there is an insurance company on the other end of this!).

I love having an old car that works, is paid for, dependable, and fun to drive.  These cars are the greatest for long and fast road trips, 150 MPH speedo and it just might do that comfortably, and great sound, flying along I-90 with the Meters blaring, getting decent mileage all the while, I was so thrilled to find another one of these just at the right time, but now… well, it’s looking grim.  I think it’s on the way to Freecycle.  We can get the police report Monday.

So now something smaller, only one dog now…  a Mazda or Geo — hatchback or wagon?  Sure can’t afford the depreciation to get a Prius off the lot!

.

Patricia Joy McGovern died on Thursday, June 17, 2010.  She was 83, and what a packed-full 83 years she had.

The factoid about her that never ceased to amaze me was that she was a professional swimmer AND fire baton twirler, AT THE SAME TIME.  She was in the Aqua Follies (remember that?  If you do, you’re probably even older than me!) and was the one who was right in the middle of everything kicking so that she was almost out of the water and twirling fire batons, yes, AT THE SAME TIME.  That’s a pretty tough act to follow.  She was the best mother-out-law, then mother-in-law, and mother-out-law again, anyway, the best ever, a positive and directive influence way back when, and a joy to be around. I remember the never-ending struggles with overwhelmed washing machines and dryers and cars trying to cope with a larger-than-life family.  My favorite memory is of any meal at her house, with 800 people and as many conversations going on all at the same time.  Her door, her heart, and her ear were always open.

That’s Pat in the middle, flanked by Peggy and I, at the St. Lawrence Band reunion back in August of 2005.  Can’t remember what we were snorting about — that’s just what happens when we all get together.

Here’s her obituary:

Patricia Joy McGovern – Obituary

Visitation

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 from 5-8 p.m.
Cremation Society of MN, Brooklyn Park
7835 Brooklyn Blvd.
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

Wednesday, 1 hour before service at Church of Open Door

Funeral Service

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 11a.m.
Church of the Open Door
9060 Zanzibar Lane N.
Maple Grove, MN

What a name…

There’s a Bonneville Power Authority transmission project, well, there’s more than one, but take a look at this one:

This is a project proposed by Bonneville Power Authority, which is a federal agency — that makes it different than a “public service corporation” applying for a project, the regulation of their transmission.

Here’s the BPA’s I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project page.

And they have a “need” page explaining why it’s needed:

BPA’s I-5 Corridor “Need” page

And of course this is where they start to lose me:

Over the years, as power production and electrical use have grown, the transmission system in this area has become increasingly congested and has moved closer to reaching its capacity. In addition, existing firm transmission service requests and new firm transmission service requests received through BPA’s 2008 Network Open Season process further increases the likelihood that the system will soon reach or exceed its capacity. Network Open Season is a yearly process that allows utilities, power generators, and power marketers to make long-term transmission service requests on BPA’s transmission system. If an additional line is not built, continued congestion could raise serious reliability concerns and, possibly, could lead to power interruptions.

The proposed I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project would help respond to these existing and new requests for transmission service, help accommodate load growth and address reliability concerns.

Where are links to the studies documenting reliability concerns?  Where is the documentation of load growth?  Where is the list of existing and new requests for transmission service?  Let’s see…

Here’s a June 2, 2010 presentation with a few hints (the pdf file says April, so I’ll label it that):

Presentation I-5 April 2010

This presentation notes that 15% of the power is sold elsewhere, and it notes that some of the power used in the area comes from elsewhere… but look at the map above and look for the word “Dam” and you’ll see there’s a lot of local generation going on.  “Network Open Season” sounds like utilities lining up to identify the landowners who are the targets.  Just because someone wants transmission service does not mean that it is reasonable, feasible or prudent to provide it, particularly if the capital costs of that transmission, reactive power and line loss cost is not factored in to the price used in “economic dispatch.”

Here are some other powerpoints

WECC Steering Team Presentation- Technical Analysis April 2007

WECC Final TAC Report

Once again, this is just a small part of a much larger plan — I guess we’ll have to do some digging to get at that info…

Once more with feeling…

Where are links to the studies documenting reliability concerns?  Where is the documentation of load growth?  Where is the list of existing and new requests for transmission service?

When I had a “regular” practice, a pile of minor criminal files, a shelf full of active family law cases, I was constantly worried about clients who were self-destructive, those killing themselves slowly with alcohol, chemicals and dangerous behavior.  But there were a couple of times when we had to keep the doors locked because of threats.  I’ve kept the notes and tapes.  At a CLE in Duluth, one of the women there had been viciously attacked by an opposing client, and her story was gut-wrenching and alarming.  One day in Dakota County, I notice extensive uniformed and undercover police presence, and learned that one of the parties on the calendar that day had previously chased a judge around the bench with a gun… OH MY!   Unfortunately, it’s too common:

The dangerous practice of law.

Recently an attorney in the trenches of Family Law, Terri Melcher, was stabbed by her client’s ex-husband.

This just in:

Most, if not all, of you are already aware of the brutal knife attack
on Fridley Family Law attorney Terri Melcher.  Terri was attacked in her
office late last week by the ex-husband of one of her clients.  Many
of her friends and colleagues in the legal community have asked how they
can show their care, concern and support for Terri.

Messages of support can be emailed to Susan Sheely or Marna Anderson, and
we will ensure she and her family get them.

In addition, the Anoka County Bar Association has set up the
“Terri Melcher Benefit Fund.”  Donations can be made directly to
the fund at any Wells Fargo location, or checks made out to the Fund can
be sent to:

Susan Sheely, c/o Barna, Guzy and Steffen, Ltd.,

200 Coon Rapids Blvd. NW, Suite 400,

Coon Rapids, MN 55433

or

Marna Anderson, c/o Hicken, Scott, Howard and Anderson,

2150 Third Ave., Suite 300,

Anoka, MN 55303

Thank you all for your care and concern for Terri during this difficult
time.

***************************

From the STrib:

St. Paul man charged with stabbing his ex-wife’s lawyer

A St. Paul man was charged Monday with stabbing his ex-wife’s attorney in the attorney’s office last week.

Sheikh Nyane, 32, of St. Paul, was charged with attempted first-degree and second-degree murder.

Nyane recently had lost legal and physical custody of a child, according to the Anoka County attorney’s office. Lawyer Terri Ann Melcher was representing Nyane’s ex-wife in family court.

According to the criminal complaint, Nyane went to the attorney’s office on the 6400 block of University Avenue NE. in Fridley about 5 p.m. Friday, where he repeatedly stabbed her in the face, throat and collarbone area. Police found Melcher in her office bleeding. She identified Nyane as her attacker and said that at one point he held her down while cutting her throat, the complaint said.

Nyane turned himself in to Minneapolis police officers at Bobby and Steve’s Auto World on Washington Avenue at Interstate 35W in Minneapolis, police said Friday. Nyane was arrested about 40 minutes after the attack occurred.

In an interview with police, Nyane said he stabbed Melcher using a knife he brought from home, the complaint said.

Melcher, 54, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center. Police said Friday that she had been in critical condition when admitted but was expected to survive. No updates on her condition were available Monday.

Nyane is being held at the Anoka County jail in lieu of $1 million bail, with no conditions. He could yet be released on $500,000 bail, with conditions.