The first Prehearing Conference for “PowerOn Midwest” was June 1, where we discussed many of the specifics of the process for this project. All those who had petitioned for intervention were granted intervention — that means North Route Group and NO765MN intervening in opposition, the ONLY ones opposing thus far. “Clean Energy Organizations” Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Fresh Energy, Clean Grid Alliance, and Sierra Club are intervening in support; MISO in support of their project, DOH; and LIUNA! in support for union work.

The schedule for “PowerOn Midwest,” PUC docket CN-25-117, has been formally ordered by the Administrative Law Judge:

Here are the specifics of the schedule:

And after all that, there’s “Exceptions” to the ALJ Report — a line by line and narrative critique, then a Commission meeting a month or more after that. Then after a Commission decision, a “Motion for Reconsideration” 20 days later, then another Commission meeting to address Reconsideration, and then there’s a trek off to the Appellate Court.

Lots to put on the calendar, and some time to get “public participation” arranged!

Catching up from a couple days ago, the “PowerOn Midwest” Applicants, Northern States Power Company, Great River Energy, and ITC Midwest, have filed “Applicants’ Response to Scoping Comments.”

This is important, because “Response to Scoping Comments” in another docket was the vehicle introducing the notion of a “DNR Proxy” route, one that did NOT include the DNR’s opposition to a new Mississippi River Crossing, and did not include recommendation of EXISTING CROSSINGS, alternate river crossings that were utterly reasonable. Veracity matters!

This Filing Letter and COS Scoping Comments needs a very close look!

For example, look at their bottom line on the Thomforde suggestions:

“THE APPLICANTS… DO NOT CONSENT TO FURTHER EVALUATION!”

Wonder why?

Recent release, from Strategic Economic Research:

Economic Impact Analysis of the PowerOn Midwest Project in Minnesota

And downloaded for future reference just in case it disappears. The “Implan” economic analysis for Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba Project was such a farce — we’ll see if this is the same:

Are costs of the project considered as well? There are all sorts of costs and benefits that can be quantified. Was it a reasonable range or limited to those easily claimed and dollars assigned?

In attempts to prove up benefits, Implan has been used before. From testimony regarding Duluth Labovitz School’s Implan study of economic benefits of the Mesaba Project coal gasification plant, in the hearing, specifically the economic health benefits of coal:

Is this report as bizarre?

Let’s get reading. Get familiar enough with this to pick it apart.

I expect that a similar report will be issued for the eastern portion of the 765kV project (CN-25-121). The project applicants are certainly vulnerable when “what’s in it for Minnesota” and “what’s in it for our community” questions arise about this “pass-through” project.

p.s. The report does list tax payments to “counties” but I want to see this itemized, county by county:

Just filed, Environmental Report Scoping Comments of North Route Group and NO765MN, and process comments too:

Hot off the press, well, yesterday… “PowerOn Midwest‘s” latest filing in the CN-25-117 docket states that “… the Applicants do not oppose Intervenors’ petition to intervene.” Good!

For your reading enjoyment, the CN-25-117 Application, there are also appendices, you can find them at the eDocket:

CN-25-117 -Application_20262-227787-02

Here’s yesterday’s filing:

Unclear? Filed in BOTH dockets, specifically named both dockets in the Petition narrative… Oh, right… OK, whatever…

And of course they do not object to MISO intervening either.

On June 1, there’s the first Prehearing Conference, and we’ll have the schedule pretty much nailed down. Better yet, Discovery will be a happening thing! The applicants have the burden of proof in this Certificate of Need proceeding, and there’s a lot of info that we need, that they need, to show that this specific project is needed.

ONWARD!