I remember when…
January 29th, 2019
Oh come on, folks, it’s not that cold. -7 right now in Red Wing. At the risk of sounding like an old fart, I remember when… I remember in the 60s those -30 mornings penguin-walking a mile to school in Michelin Man costume.
And I’d rather forget those awful mornings in the 70s, so glad to have that long muskrat coat, I appreciated each and every dead muskrat. And 1974 for sure was awful, living in an unheated attic, and trying, and failing, to start the car, a personal emergency. Piglet, my ’64 Galaxie just couldn’t do it.
Early 80s, changing the oil in my van because I’d flooded it beyond hope. What hell that was…
And in 1994, when my new Dodge Colt froze up! How did that happen? Caught it overheating as it was warming up, and lucky to get it to the shop and thawed out. WHEW, too close.
But as you well know, climate has changed. I kept telling Alan Muller that winters are not “normal” here, little snow, and not -30 or worse. Now and then, we do get reminders (click photos for larger versions).
Roger Stone Arrested
January 25th, 2019
What delightful news to wake up to — Roger Stone indicted and arrested!
REAL NEWS – PRIMARY DOCUMENT ALERT:
Coal Ash – yes, it’s a problem
January 20th, 2019
What happens to coal ash? It’s shoveled out, brought to a “ash disposal facility” where it goes into the ground, and from there??? We’re finally learning that it often leaches into the ground, down into the groundwater. Thanks to EarthJustice for posting the raw data — no plants listed for Minnesota:
Scroll down for their newer reports.
It’s not news, though, and has been the subject of research for a long time, this study from 1980:
What did they look for and find?
So yeah, this is something to be concerned about…
There are coal ash and other ash “disposal facilities” everywhere, usually very close to where the ash is generated, here in Red Wing we have an ash dump, ash from two old coal burners at the NSP/Xcel garbage burners on the south end of town, and a now closed city garbage burner, visible on the map above, at the lower right corner of the black striped “Water Tank Mound Area” and beyond, that complex there. The City garbage burner was closed not long ago (YEAAAAA!!!), but the NSP/Xcel former coal burners, now garbage burner, remain burning.
(The Air Permits for those 2 burners have been expired for a decade or more, but that’s another story, covered before and to be covered again, but not today.)
The coal ash and garbage ash has been piling up for decades. A couple of years ago there was a city and Xcel scam launched here in Red Wing, “ash mining.”
Alan Muller on Red Wing’s garbage ash “mining”
April 30th, 2016
December 7 – Red Wing Ash Mine Open House
December 1st, 2016
MPCA’s THREE Red Wing Ash releases today
December 5th, 2016
Lab USA Ash Mining – PCA says “No EIS needed”
April 7th, 2017
Comments on Red Wing Ash “Mining” Project
April 15th, 2017
Having some experience with ash issues, there’s been recent reports about utility disclosures of ash contamination:
EarthJustice – Coal Ash: Reports & Publications (Texas, Georgia, West Virginia)
Where are details for Minnesota?
MGE & WPSC shot down!
January 9th, 2019
This has been one of the longest weeks, if I were a driver, I’d be out of hours after tossing my 2nd log book in the bunk! But hey, that’s why they call it work. This Order helped make it all worthwhile.
MGE and WPSC have been working so hard to keep Jewell Jinkins Intervenors out of this docket, and we end up spending all our time on challenging the onslaught. Today’s Order follows the PSC denial of their Motion to have us tossed out:
Which followed their previous Objection to our Intervention, which was also tossed out:
At long last, this… ONCE MORE WITH FEELING:
It’s hard to pick my favorite part, this is for sure in the Top 10 of all time. How’s this for a snippet?
Onward. Today after this Order, I received their Confidentiality Agreements, signed them and shipped to the utilities, and then the Discovery started coming in. Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots. Rebuttal is due tomorrow. Right…
What’s become of Excelsior Energy?
December 16th, 2018
Remember Excelsior Energy‘s boondoggle Mesaba Project? Go to the PUC’s search page and search for “05-1993” and “06-668” for the dockets.
A little birdie flew by today, cocked its shiny eye and said…
So following up… Does anyone find it strange that as of August 3, 2018, the registered office of Excelsior Energy and its agent, CEO, and Principal Executive Office Address of Tom Micheletti, is THE ABOVE STORAGE UNIT at 4630 Quebec Avenue North, New Hope, MN 55428?
Last known address: 708 1st St., #421, Minneapolis, sold 2017 for $749,900(verified in Metsa for Congress report, 3/9/2018 donation)… and then there’s Orono: Tom & Julie’s house is for sale.
Did you know that Excelsior Energy got their regulatory perks extended until 2025?!?! Really, look at this, Minn. Stat. 216B.1694, Subd. 3(b)(1), a 2017 legislative boondoggle!
Yes, Excelsior Energy was doing their lobbying in 2017.
Julie Jorgensen has been hustling with Greenmark, our good friends Mark Andrews and Red Wing’s ex-Mayor Dennis Egan. Three Musketeers? Three Stooges?
Then there’s Excelsior Energy Capital. What’s that?!?! Well, a Delaware corp registered in Minnesota in August of 2017, and inquiring minds found out their HQ is a BOAT SLIP at 21950 Minnetonka Boulevard, #210, Excelsior, MN.
Really. Could google maps be wrong? It’s not international waters, but assuredly … ummmm… well, bizarre! Look at their TEAM (can you say photoshopped?). I can’t find direct connections to our friends at Excelsior Energy, but with an operation like this, it’s got to be there! Searching…
Remember AWA Goodhue’s office? And Secretary of State lets them get away with this?
