Legalectric

In the Xcel Energy docket at Public Utilities Commission for an Electric Service Agreement (M-26-170) for electricity to power the Pine Island data center, a document was filed… but it’s TOP SECRET… TRADE SECRET… HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL… the ENTIRE document! All that was filed was this, with explanation why we can’t see it, ANY OF IT:

The Amendment has been designated as “Highly Confidential Trade Secret” in its entirety, as it comprises competitively sensitive contractually negotiated terms, that derive independent economic value from not being generally known or readily ascertainable by others who could obtain economic value or a financial advantage
from its disclosure or use.

Uh-huh… WAY too familiar… kinda reminds me of the Delaware IGCC’s “site plan” and “price” info filings at the PSC:

Getting caught up, and these four dockets are all tied together, so I’ve fired off this comment, because these should NOT be compartmentalized. So many people have asked me about electricity for the data center, whether the 765 kV lines of “PowerOn Midwest” (CN-5-117) and “Gopher to Badger Link” (CN-25-121) are connected, and what that Xcel’s Electric Services Agreement (M-26-170) for the Google’s Echo Zone data center means… I don’t have answers, just some hints, but it’s looking like it’s all connected.

Note I’ve filed this as an individual, and not in the course of representation of any party.

Comments are due June 26th by 4:30 p.m.

Now’s the time — Public Utilities Commission has provided Notice of Comment Period – it’s open for the data center transmission line.

Here’s the notice of Comment Period and meetings in full — meetings are in person and virtual so it’s easy to show up:

Get on the service list for this Public Utilities Commission docket, TL-26-135, and download the application — read it so you can comment effectively!

Comments are due June 26th by 4:30 p.m.

Here’s the whole thing, what Xcel’s plan is for electric to the data center — all 3 pages — for some reason this little document keeps disappearing!

Note — it’s this 345kV little line for the data center. The 765kV comes up from Pleasant Valley down by I-90 to a new substation just north of the “North Rochester” substation (really north of Pine Island), and then exits that new substation and heads back south… right, makes a lot of sense, costs a lot of money… whose brilliant idea was this? AND there will be a connector from the new 765kV line (it’s all one line, don’t let them fool you), a 345kV connecting the two. So NO, the 765kV aren’t for the data center, but YES, there is power coming off that 765kV down to the North Rochester substation, so NO, not DIRECTLY connected, but YES, INDIRECTLY connected, and as we say in transmission, “IT’S ALL CONNECTED!” Hope that clears it up… SNORT!!

Now this 345kV line is a double circuited line to hop over Hwy 52, from the “North Rochester” (north of Pine Island) substation to Google’s Skyway Data Center. Compare this to the info from Xcel’s Electric Services Agreement for that same data center LARGE LOAD:

And the Transmission docket is open, TL-26-135, declared complete on May 12.

(taking forever to download here at the park… zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

Here’s what the official map of this little stretch looks like, keep in mind that the Mankato-Mississippi 345kV line is removing and moving the 161kV underbuild and adding a second 345kV circuit. There’s a lot going on there, and it seems this line is having prostate trouble:

YEAAAAAAAAAAA, IT DOWNLOADED. 76MB?!?! Wouldn’t download, and even if it did, couldn’t upload it, just TOO BIG! Separated out the appendices from the narrative and it adds up to a fraction of that. A touch over 10 MB! Xcel, do you do this on purpose? (JUST DOWNLOADED, and am starting to read it — no answers yet!)

The Commission did declare the application complete: