First there was CapX 2020 transmission (following Arrowhead transmission, which was supposed to be the be-all and end-all of transmission)(and the SW MN 345kV line, precursor to CapX 2020. CapX transmission was based on a forecasted 2.49% increase in demand, which as we know, didn’t happen.
And there was the MISO 17 project MVP Portfolio:
Tomorrow, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission is making its
decision regarding the Cardinal-Hickory Creek project, the southern part
of #5 above, and the LAST of the MVP projects to go through state
administrative approval.
The schedule for IRP hearings was just released, it’s in October, so there’s time to make time for it:
We know Xcel Energy gets a “handsome” rate of return for transmission capital expenditures (hence “CapX transmission), so of course they want to build more. The IRP is our time to tell them how they should get the electricity they need, whether their plans are making any sense.
How about shutting down some of those coal plants, and freeing up
some capacity? How about siting solar on every rooftop, over every
parking lot, putting the generation at load so we don’t need
transmission? Oh, but wait, that makes too much sense, especially where
a utility wants to keep control of the generation, and the
expenditures, and rake in the dough.
Leave a Reply