Info Requests on NoCapX 2020
March 26th, 2008
FYI, I’ve posted the CapX 2020 Information Requests, going back and forth, on www.nocapx2020.info. There’s not a lot there, and more outgoing than responses.
They’ll be here, I’ll just keep adding to the page as I get them.
CapX 2020 Scoping Comments filed
January 16th, 2008
You can find them here:
CapX 2020 Transmission – Hearing Schedule
January 3rd, 2008
The hearing schedule has been issued in the First Prehearing Order in the CapX 2020 docket. For more info, go here:
CapX 2020 Transmission Prehearing Order
And for the whole scoop, it’s at www.nocapx2020.info
Outland “transmission for wind” NOT
December 26th, 2007
Hmmmmm… Outland Renewable Energy proposes another “it’s for wind line” NOT… what does this mean? Do I detect trajectory?
Otter Tail Power’s Big Stone II coal plant is floundering, and the transmission for that project is pending at the Minnesota PUC, transmission that necessarily must connect to CapX 2020’s “it’s for wind” NOT line:
- “Outland Renewable Energy” proposes an “It’s for wind” line…
- It’s a regular ol’ corporation, and does not have the power of eminent domain.
- FERC regulations prohibit any transmission provider to discriminate against generators, generation types, etc., wind, coal, nuclear, whatever… An “It’s for wind” line can’t be done. Legally it must transmit whatever is out there…
- oh… and a google reveals that Ingrid Bjorklund, V.P. of Governmental Affiars and Associate General Counsel for Outland, is also an Ottertail Power lobbyist. She has since filed a termination notice for Otter Tail, hmmmmm.
Oh… OK… sigh…
Here’s their Press Release that was picked up verbatim by Shakopee Valley News and North American Windpower (Finance & Commerce did a bit better, bit it’s not online yet, rumor has it that F&C will be online soon) and probably others who didn’t put any thought into whether this is possible, legal, or just PR hype from toadies of coal hedging their bets as the transmission line that BSII depends on hangs in limbo…
OUTLAND ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR A COMMUNITY-WIND POWER LINE
December 21, 2007 – Chaska, Minnesota
CORRECTION on SW MN 345kV structures
December 10th, 2007
Just back from the CapX 2020 meeting in Fergus Falls, and learned from Tim Carlsgaard that an Xcel engineer told him that I was off on my suspicions on the 345kV structures.
You’ll note that the structures have arms only on one side and the line’s three phases are vertically arranged, and my suspicion was that before the line was even up, they’d be wanting to “upgrade” and add another full compliment of vertically arranged lines on the other side. WRONG!!!! What they say, and it passes the smell test, is that the DOT wouldn’t let them overhand the DOT right-of-way no matter how they squealed and squawked.
OH, OK. Well, there you have it! Thanks, Tim!
For the rest of the meeting, you’ll have to go over to www.nocapx2020.info. But it’ll take a bit to get it posted.