Chickadees, ready for their new home!
August 6th, 2016
Bird Clan
Chickadees, in Bird Clan, a print of oil by Daniel Milton HorseChief, are now framed and ready for its new home in my office, next to my inspirational Jerry Garcia “You can pursue that goal and feed the dog at the same time, it just takes a little extra effort” photo. I haven’t had a splurge like this in a while, and it feels good!
HorseChief is both a painter and sculptor, living on the Oklahoma end of the Plains & Eastern Clean Line transmission project.
Prints are available of his work, and he can be reached via facebook.
Custer’s Knoll, The Battle of the Little Bighorn 1976
Going Snake’s Trail
LonghairClan Mother
Is Enbridge going to pull plug on Sandpiper pipeline?
August 4th, 2016
Word is out, confirming scuttlebutt, that Enbridge will pull the plug on the Sandpiper pipeline. It’s not official yet, nothing has happened beyond an announcement, but if Enbridge is saying it, IN WRITING, then that means it’s highly likely, eh?
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. and Enbridge Inc. Announce Agreement to Acquire Equity Interest in the Bakken Pipeline System Establishing New Path to the U.S. Gulf Coast
Here’s the important part:
Upon successful closing of the transaction, EEP and Marathon Petroleum plan to terminate their transportation services and joint venture agreements for the Sandpiper Pipeline Project. EEP continues to believe the Bakken region is a highly productive and attractive basin, which has significant crude oil supply growth potential that will require additional pipeline capacity in the future. The scope and timing of the Sandpiper Pipeline Project will be evaluated during the quarter to ensure that it is positioned to meet the growing need for pipeline capacity while offering customers competitive tolls and strong netbacks. Additionally, in conjunction with a termination of the Sandpiper joint venture agreements with Marathon Petroleum, EEP will retain 100 percent ownership in our legacy North Dakota system, which is one of the most competitive outlets available to producers in the State.
(what’s a “netback?”).
Reuters has it right with the “OVERBUILD” characterization:
Enbridge’s Sandpiper looks to be latest victim of pipeline overbuild
For this to be “official,” Enbridge will need to file a request to withdraw their application with the Public Utilities Commission, there will be a comment period, then the Commission will decide whether to approve the request to withdraw.
Suffice it to say, this will/would also mean that the transmission for the Sandpiper tank farm NW of Clearbrook is not necessary because the tank farm will not be built there (or in an alternate site)! And that’s good news for my clients next to that tank farm.
As happened with Hollydale, because the Sandpiper part is before OAH, Enbridge has to request a Withdrawal, which will be certified to the Commission for its blessing. Here’s the Hollydale request:
And for Clearbrook-Clearbrook West 115 kV transmission for Sandpiper’s Clearbrook tank farm, it’s time for Minnkota to withdraw their application!
So I fired off this missive to the PUC:
Iit’s time to make sure the PUC knows of this Enbridge plan and the impact of this pullout on the need for transmission support!
Wind turbine noise standards? Long overdue!
August 2nd, 2016
It’s been a problem for so long. Minnesota needs respectful wind turbine siting standards, and a part of that is that Minnesota needs wind turbine noise rules.
Way back in 2009, the Minnesota Dept. of Health wrote a report entitled “The Public Health Impact of Wind Turbines” and the PUC opened a docket (PUC Docket 09-845).
In 2016, it’s still an issue, because it’s not been addressed in any meaningful way. Check the Bent Tree docket, starting at 58:36:
So I sent this today, a Rulemaking Petition to the MPCA, and then notice to the PUC that it was sent and that Minn. R. Ch. 7854, the wind siting rules, need work: