Filings on Freeborn Wind… Again! Again!
November 12th, 2019
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/11/teletubbiesAgainAgain.jpg)
This round is for comments on Xcel’s Permit Amendment Request:
Here’s what we (Association of Freeborn County Landowners) filed:
Quite a few comments were filed.
Reply Comments due November 19, 2019, one week from today!
Freeborn Wind – AGAIN!
October 24th, 2019
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2015/12/xcel_Logo.jpg)
Here we go, deja vu all over again. Xcel Energy has taken over Freeborn Wind and has asked for a permit amendment, the Permit Amendment filings are here:
STAY, Freeborn Wind!
The Public Utilities Commission has just issued notice of the Comment period on the Permit Amendment:
Initial comments accepted through November 12, 2019 at 4:30 PM.
Reply comments accepted through November 19, 2019 at 4:30 PM.
Here is what they want to hear about:
Topics for Public Comment:
• Should the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission amend the Freeborn Wind Farm Site Permit to change the number, type and layout of the turbines to be used, as well as additional participating land?
• Should the Commission accept the supplemental environmental impact analysis?
• Should any permit conditions be modified or added if the requested amendments are approved?
• Are there other issues or concerns related to this matter?
Oh yes, there are plenty of other issues, and you’ll hear all about it, PUC! But it’s nothing you don’t know already.
To view all the filings, go HERE – DOCKET SEARCH and search for 17=410 (17 = year, 410 = docket).
How to Submit Comments:
Online Visit mn.gov/puc, select Speak Up!, find this docket, and add your comments to the discussion.
Email Comments can be emailed to publicadvisor.puc@state.mn.us
U.S. Mail Charley Bruce, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place E, Suite 350, Saint Paul, MN 55101-2147
eFiling Visit mn.gov/puc, select eFiling, and follow the prompts (you’ll need to register, and it’s EASY and fast).
11/19 – PPSA Annual Hearing
October 18th, 2019
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2015/11/mickeymouse.jpg)
It’s that time of year again, the Power Plant Siting Act Annual Hearing.
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/10/Notice.jpg)
And here’s the…
Here’s the Power Plant Siting Act — Minn. Stat. Ch. 216E!
Why an Annual Hearing? Because the statute says so:
216E.07 | ANNUAL HEARING. |
Here are the reports from prior PPSA Annual Hearings:
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 Report– Docket 14-887
2015 Summary Report – Docket 15-785
2016 Summary Report – Docket 16-18
STAY, Freeborn Wind!
October 2nd, 2019
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2009/02/crowd_cheering_med.jpg)
And we SCORE! Association of Freeborn County Landowners had a win earlier today when the Minnesota Court of Appeals granted our Motion for Stay of the Freeborn Wind Appeal as the Xcel Request for Amendment goes forward. YES! Sure glad we’re not having to do two things at once!
And FYI, here’s Xcel’s Amendment Request:
Ex 1_Xcel Site Permit Amendment Application_Part 1 of 4_20198-155331-01Download
Ex 2_Xcel Site Permit Amendment Application_Part 2 of 4_20198-155331-02Download
Ex 3_Xcel Site Permit Amendment Application_Part 3 of 4_20198-155331-03Download
Ex 4_Xcel Site Permit Amendment Application_Part 4 of 4_20198-155331-04Download
Juhl in the news
September 22nd, 2019
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/09/CoAtty-Juhl.jpg)
Remember the Juhl Energy permit fiasco in Rock County earlier this month?
Rock County CUP granted
Now another Juhl project in the news, featuring Dan Juhl, who says he’s retired. HA! Doesn’t look like it… [After I published this, found another in the STrib, “Minnesota wind-solar hybrid project could be new frontier for renewable energy,” yup, “retired” guy on a big PR push!]
FYI, yes, distributed generation is where it’s at, siting small projects near load means that no new transmission is required, but because the massive transmission build-outs of CapX 2020 and MISO’s 17 project MVP portfolio have been built, well, it’s a little late.
BTW, Dan Juhl was present at the September 8, 2001 meeting at the Dinkytown Loring, after the first of Xcel’s 345kV transmission lines was proposed (Search for PUC Docket 01-1958) where Beth Soholt and Matt Schuerger asked a bunch of likely intervenors, “What would it take for you to approve of this project?” They never answered my question of what they were getting to promote it, but Matt Schuerger sure did get pissy and flustered and threatened to stomp out of the meeting! I did find documentation the $4.5 million (2001) and $8.1 million (2003) grants for “Wind on the Wires,” at that time a program of the Izaak Walton League. Clearly they got at least that much, and from other sources they got more, who knows how much… And all those transmission projects went through…
Anyway, here’s the recent report on a new project, from MPR:
New power generation: Rural co-op makes bet on wind, solar hybrid
The electricity we use is often generated hundreds of miles away. Dan Juhl wants to keep it local.
![Dan Juhl stands near a solar panel](https://img.apmcdn.org/cb761466b5d932415fb0bca402a9612f3d3916d2/normal/ed5da8-20190917-hybridrenewableenergy-02.jpg)
To prove his theory, Juhl’s company — Juhl Energy — has built what he calls the first hybrid generating system in the country.
![Lake Region Electric CEO Tim Thompson](https://img.apmcdn.org/3304150e3a8896b6a4d93f50117757afcf4fac24/normal/565a03-20190917-hybridrenewableenergy-04.jpg)
A smaller scale for energy resilience
![A wind turbine in a corn field](https://img.apmcdn.org/5de3e095f9c42dd170565c57f0126b4b25fdb14c/normal/7c3da3-20190917-hybridrenewableenergy-01.jpg)
A customer in co-ops
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New Power Generation? Just saw the reincarnation at the Sheldon last year…
Oh… nevermind…