Tuesday 12/1 – PPSA Annual Hearing
November 29th, 2015
Here we go again, this year’s Power Plant Siting Act Annual Hearing.
Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Number: E999/M-15-785
Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 60-2500-32901
Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Large Hearing Room, 121 7th Place East, Suite 350, Saint Paul, MN 55101
Bad weather? Find out if a meeting is canceled. Call (toll-free) 1-855-731-6208 or 651-201-2213 or visit mn.gov/puc
Here are some prior dockets (to access the entire docket, individual comments, etc., go to :
2006 Report to PUC – Docket 06-1733
2007 Report to PUC – Docket 07-1579
2008 Report to PUC – Docket 08-1426
2009 Report to PUC – Docket 09-1351
2010 Report to PUC – Docket 10-222
2011 Report to PUC – Docket 11-324
2012 Report to PUC – Docket 12-360
2013 Report to PUC – Docket 13-965
2014 Summary Comments– Docket 14-887
Clean Coal Carolers
November 15th, 2015
Someone posted the Minion Carolers, and, well, though I don’t need to get too wrapped up in these things because I AM a Christmas Carol, I remembered this from a few years back and found one (weren’t there more?_ and want to capture it while the spirit moves me:
NOTICE – PPSA ANNUAL HEARING 12/1
November 9th, 2015
Notice of the Power Plant Siting and Transmission Line Routing Program Annual Hearing
Issued: November 6, 2015
In the Matter of the 2015 Power Plant Siting Act Annual Hearing
Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Docket Number: E999/M-15-785
Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Docket Number: 60-2500-32901
Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Large Hearing Room, 121 7th Place East, Suite 350, Saint Paul, MN 55101
Bad weather? Find out if a meeting is canceled. Call (toll-free) 1-855-731-6208 or 651-201-2213 or visit mn.gov/puc
Hearing Description
The annual hearing is required by Minnesota Statute § 216E.07, which provides that:
Thecommission shall hold an annual public hearing at a time and place prescribed by rule in order to afford interested persons an opportunity to be heard regarding any matters relating to the siting of large electric generating power plants and routing of high-voltage transmission lines. At the meeting, the commission shall advise the public of the permits issued by the commission in the past year….
Note – No decisions about specific projects are made at the annual hearing.
Public Hearing Information
- Public hearings start on time.
- Arrive a few minutes early so you have time to sign in, pick up materials, and find a seat.
- Administrative Law Judge James LaFave will preside over the hearing.
- Public Utilities Commission and Department of Commerce staff members are available to answer questions about the Power Plant Siting Act processes and the projects.
- You may add verbal comments, written comments, or both into the record.
- Learn more about participating at a public hearing at http://mn.gov/puc/resources/meetings-and-hearings.jsp
- Judge LaFave will use information gathered at the public hearing and during the comment period to write a summary report for the Commission
Submit Comments
Topics for Public Comment:
- Any matters related to the site permit process for large electric generating power plants and routing of high-voltage transmission lines.
Comment Period: November 6, 2015 through January 5, 2016 at 4:30pm.
- Comments must be received by 4:30pm on the close date
- Comments received after comment period closes may not be considered
Online Visit mn.gov/puc, select Speak Up!, find this docket (15-785), and add your comments to the discussion.
If you wish to include an exhibit, map or other attachment, please send your comments via eFiling (see below) or U.S. Mail.
Please include the Commission’s docket number in all communications.
Filing Requirements: Utilities and state agencies are required to file documents using the Commission’s electronic filing system (eFiling). All parties, participants and interested persons are encouraged to use eFiling: mn.gov/puc, select eFiling, and follow the prompts.
Important Comments will be made available to the public via the Public Utilities Commission’s website, except in limited circumstances consistent with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The Commission does not edit or delete personal identifying information from submissions.
Hearing Agenda
I. Introductions
II.Overview of Programs
A. Public Utilities Commission – Facilities Permitting and Public Advisor
B. Department of Commerce – Energy Facilities Permitting Unit
C. Role of Other Agencies
III. Projects Reviewed
A. Projects Permitted in 2015
B. Pending and Anticipated Projects
C. Electric Facilities Subject to Power Plant Siting Act
1. Generating Plants
2. Transmission Lines
IV. Public Questions and Testimony
V. Adjourn
How to Learn More
Subscribe to the Docket: Subscribe to receive email notifications when new documents are filed. Note – subscribing may result in a large number of emails.
- mn.gov/puc
- Select Subscribe to a Docket
- Type your email address
- For Type of Subscription, select Docket Number
- For Docket Number, select 15 in the first box, type 785 in the second box
- Select Add to List
- Select Save
Full Case Record: See all documents filed in this docket via the Commission’s website – mn.gov/puc, select Search eDockets, enter the year (15) and the docket number (785), select Search.
Project Mailing Lists: Sign up to receive notices and opportunities to participate in other dockets relating to specific projects in which you are interested (meetings, comment periods, etc.). Contact docketing.puc@state.mn.us or 651-201-2234 with the docket number, your name, mailing address and email address.
Minnesota Statutes and Rules: The hearing is being conducted according to Minnesota Statute 216E.07. Minnesota Statutes are available at www.revisor.mn.gov.
Project Contacts
Public Utilities Commission Public Advisor
Tracy Smetana – consumer.puc@state.mn.us, 651-296-0406 or 1-800-657-3782
Today – train derailment north of Alma, WI
November 7th, 2015
Photo from news8000.com
And the good news is that it’s NOT Bakken BOOM! oil, only denatured alcohol and some empty car cars. The evacuation has been lifted and people are returning. The other good news is that this means they won’t be shipping on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi anytime soon, with the associated bad news that then they’ll be shipping through Red Wing more often.
Some good photos here:
NOTE: There’s a Minneapolis CARS message below regarding the November 10th Mpls. City Council meeting.
From News8000:
Emergency crews on scene of 32-car train derailment north of Alma
From KSTP 5:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here’s the Minneapolis CARS (Citizens Acting for Rail Safety) message:
Nov 10th -- Attention Minneapolis residents: Support a Strong Rail Safety Resolution! Hello CARS network, as we reported last month, the City of Minneapolis is preparing a rail safety resolution that will come before the Transportation and Public Works committee on November 10th. We are encouraged from conversations with City Council members that the resolution will be a great first step forward and that the resolution is likely to pass the committee and the City Council. There is also understanding that this will be a living document that will need updating as more information is available. It is important that the City Council hear from us to know that the community is supportive of this important work. There are two ways you can do this: 1) Mark your calendars to attend the Minneapolis City Council Transportation & Public Works Committee meeting next Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 9:30 am in the Council Chamber, Room 317 of City Hall. If you are able to attend, please let us know by replying to this email. Comments will not be allowed, but your presence will be important. Please also plan to stay for a brief press conference that is being organized for approximately 11:30 am. As the media reports this important success, it is important that we have as many people in attendance as possible showing community support. 2) Contact your Minneapolis City Council member to thank them for supporting a strong rail safety resolution. Call or Email them with some version of the following message, sharing your own personal story of living near the rails if you are willing. I am concerned about the risks that freight trains carrying crude oil, ethanol and other hazardous materials pose to my neighborhood. I thank the City for its leadership in supporting a strong Rail Safety Resolution that will protect Minneapolis. MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL CONTACT INFORMATION Ward 1 - kevin.reich@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2201 Ward 2 - cam.gordon@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2202 Ward 3 - jacob.frey@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2203 Ward 4 - barbara.johnson@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2204 Ward 5 - blong.yang@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2205 Ward 6 - abdi.warsame@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2206 Ward 7 - lisa.goodman@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2207 Ward 8 - elizabeth.glidden@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2208 Ward 9 - alondra.cano@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2209 Ward 10 - lisa.bender@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2210 Ward 11 - john.quincy@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2211 Ward 12 - andrew.johnson@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2212 Ward 13 - linea.palmisano@minneapolismn.gov - (612)673-2213 Cars Contact Info: Cathy Velasquez Eberhart Citizens Acting for Rail Safety - Twin Cities saferailstwincities@gmail.com 651-587-5356 on Facebook at: facebook.com/saferailstwincities
Xcel’s new rate increase request
November 2nd, 2015
Xcel’s cost of electricity is down. Yet they want more money from us, 9.8% over the next 3 years, with the average residential customer’s 675 kW/hr bill to go up $11 a month. WHAT?
Meanwhile, last year at the legislature, the biggest of the big customers got a special rate category and special lower rates. WHAT?
The above graph is from Chuck Burdick’s testimony — after dealing with him in the Goodhue Wind case, I couldn’t resist checking out his testimony (Application, 2A2 – MYRP).
So if Xcel Energy was authorized a certain ROE, and only earned a much lesser ROE, does that mean we should make up the difference? Also from Burdick’s testimony:
Were this “free market” the response would be that the company should contract, that there are too many cooks in that kitchen, that the capital expenses not for our use, such as this big transmission build-out, should not occur, and we should not have to pay for them.
Let’s take a look at the drivers, where they’re running short — do we want to pay for this? From the Application 1:
The initial filing in this new rate case is there for the reading, dig in, I’m sure there’s something you’ll enjoy.
Just go HERE TO PUC’S SEARCH DOCKETS PAGE and search for PUC docket 15-826, opened today.
In the STrib today:
Xcel seeks 9.8 percent rate hike in Minnesota over three years