Mesaba Transmission happens – NOT!
January 7th, 2007
Oh, yes, those are clouds you see on Excelsior’s Mesaba Project horizon…
In my brief, I’d referred to Excelsior’s transmission problems as “perversely hilarious.” Well, it just got better… On Friday, Xcel sent its Initial Brief around (they’re not posted yet… someday…). In that brief, Xcel referenced a new MISO study on the transmission fiasco for the Mesaba Project. Somehow, it just happens that Xcel got this the day before the briefs were due. Funny how that works, but I guess that’s why they call them “power companies,” eh?
So here’s the study:
And here’s the quote that explains it all:
3. ConclusionBased on the above results, it is concluded that the request for 603MW for firm transmission service cannot be granted at this time. Constraints are listed in Tables 2-1 through 2-14. All constraints must be mitigated before service can be granted.The System Impact Study will now continue to determine the remaining constraints and mitigation required to correct the constraints found.
Translation for non-engineers:
Excelsior — you don’t get transmission for the Mesaba Project — but maybe all the problems can be fixed so you could have transmission — but there are SEVEN pages of problems. Two options for 2011 and 2014, and oh… oh my… NOPE, IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN! GIVE IT UP!
But that’s not anything new given the reports from MAPP, like the one of August 16, 2006 that said Mesaba failed for both the East and West site! Dig the big red “failed” on slides 8 and 9.
The Excelsior party line is, “There, there, little girl, you just don’t understand.” Sure, right, OK, fine, just like the way they’d have to cut 675MW of Buff Ridge Wind, Minnesota Power generation cut and capacity of the Arrowhead line, and that they have to “keep” the Big Stone II generation in North Dakota!
Well, it’s in Xcel’s brief so it’s gotta be true, right?!?!?!?!
This just keeps getting more and more hilarious…
January 7th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Good work Carol! Keep on them.
January 8th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Carol,
This is the first time I’ve seen you’re site. Very impressive.
Thanks for this “energized” and broad informational energy site including Mesaba!
Continued success and vigilence!