Look who’s in the news!
January 5th, 2018
Yes, we all know that Mike Bull wrote most of the energy law now in place! But there’s no mention of those many years of work at House Regulated Industries Committee though…
And we all know that there are some big holes and problems with the wind siting statutes, rules, and standards. What will it take to get some of the problems worked through, like some respectful wind siting standards? We’re just starting to see, at long last, after years and years of complaints, some Public Utilities Commission action on wind noise issues.
Bent Tree_Noise Monitoring and Monitoring Report_20179-135856-01
Siting will have to be addressed, because despite sound modeling that says “no problem,” there are indeed problems. Despite shadow flicker modeling that says “no problem,” there are indeed problems.
Preventative siting is long overdue and needs to start NOW! And what about those already affected? “Buy the Farm” for wind? It’s overdue. Action after the fact is not the best of options, prevention is always the key, but for those now attempting to live in untenable circumstances, foisted on them by the nuisance moving into their community, and permitted by the Commission, what are the options?
Wind project in southern Minnesota gets pushback
Hey Mikey, how ’bout helping get to some solutions???
Prairie Island conversion to natural gas
January 3rd, 2018
There’s been some chatter lately about the financial future of Red Wing if and when the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant closes.
FYI, for those thinking about this, do check out the plan to convert to natural gas, this was in NSP’s 2002 IRP, just going into the 2003 session and that Prairie Island bill.
There’s also a MISO transmission study:
There are plans… This is not a binary all or nothing situation!
AFCL Scoping Comments filed today
January 3rd, 2018
Map of transmission — click for larger view
Just filed, Association of Freeborn Landowner Scoping Comments for the Environmental Assessment for the transmission line for the Freeborn Wind Energy wind project:
And tomorrow, on the wind project side, the Commission is going to make decision on whether to issue the Draft Site Permit — we’re number 7 on the agenda:
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Thursday, January 4, 2018, 9:30am |
|---|---|
| Where | Large Hearing Room 121 7th Place E, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55101 |
| Event Type | Agenda |
| Industry | Electric, Energy Facilities, Telecom |
| Details |
Commission Inquiry — EV Charging & Infrastructure
December 28th, 2017
EV Charging Station at Duluth’s Rail Museum Parking Lot
There’s been some discussion here in Red Wing and Goodhue Cunty about the city installing infrastructure for charging electric vehicles. There’s a charger at the Kwik Trip on the west side of town, but I think that’s a slow charger, a regular outlet that would take forever to amount to anything. The Red Wing City Council voted to approve a charging station in the LaGrange parking ramp, and to request a grant to cover part of the cost, estimated at about $10,000 (!!).
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EV charging station enters discussion in Goodhue County
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Electric vehicle charging station to come to Red Wing
In the meantime, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has opened a docket looking into a few policy issues about electric charging:
In mid-March there will be a public workshop hosted by the PUC, and then there will be a comment period on these topics, and more:
This ties into what Red Wing and Goodhue County are looking into and could affect that.
Interested in receiving notices and participating in the workshop and discussion? Contact:
Hanna Terwilliger: hanna.terwilliger@state.mn.us or (651) 201-2243
Kelly Martone: kelly.martone@state.mn.us or (651) 201-2245
If Evanston, WY, in the midst of gas/oil country can do it…
Letter in Albert Lea Tribune re: Freeborn Wind Farm
December 16th, 2017
On Tuesday, Commerce is having a wind project transmission scoping meeting (MPUC Docket 17-322):
6 p.m. on December 19, 2017
Room 124
Riverland Community College
Albert Lea, MN
The Albert Lea Tribune printed my Letter to the Editor about the Freeborn Wind Farm transmission scoping meeting:
Letter: Meeting on new wind farm is planned next week
At 6 p.m. Dec. 19 in Room 124 at Riverland Community College, the Minnesota Department of Commerce is holding a public comment and scoping meeting for the transmission line designed to serve the Freeborn Wind project. This is the opportunity for you to raise any questions and concerns about what issues should be investigated and reviewed in the Department of Commerce’s environmental review. This includes all of the things you know about the area, and any alternatives that should be in the mix.
Minnesota has a policy of non-proliferation of transmission corridors, which means that as a matter of law, transmission should be routed using existing corridors, such as transmission lines already in place or road right of way. This line, instead, is proposed to traverse cross country. That’s not non-proliferation.
Another problem is that Freeborn Wind developers claim they have land rights to all land needed for this transmission line, and then state that they’ll use eminent domain if they don’t. Well, which is it? And it’s troubling, because only public service corporations have the power of eminent domain, but Freeborn is a LLC, not a public service corporation. To make things more complicated, need has not been demonstrated, and there is no certificate of need. Need is a requirement for use of eminent domain. What’s their basis for saying they can use eminent domain?
This is yet another overreach by the developers — more infrastructure, which would forever change the landscape of this community. Dec. 19 at Riverland College — now is the time to speak up!
Carol A. Overland
Attorney for Association of Freeborn County Landowners