Legalectric

Minnesota Power’s Arrowhead-Weston Transmission Project was probably the longest and most torturous transmission project in Minnesota and Wisconsin, at least, if not worse, than CapX 2020 Hampton to La Crosse. Arrowhead_Weston ran over a less than 15 mile distance in Minnesota, crossing over the St. Louis River near Duluth, and the over into Wisconsin where it headed down to the Weston coal plant.

World Organization for Landowner Freedom (W.O.L.F.) intervened and showed up for years in the various proceedings for this transmission project. There was a two week hearing in Duluth (MEQB Docket: MP-HVTL-EA-1-99), I’d started that in a tent in a friend’s back yard, and we were officing in the garage… then off to Madison for a two month hearing (PSC Docket 05-CE-113), which after initial CPCN approval went on through 3 iterations due to cost increases and routing through Douglas County, Wisconsin. FYI,weird, the A-W EIS is HERE in the Library of Congress files, along with other Wisconsin utility EISs:

Anyway, throughout most of this fiasco, other than the very end, World Organization for Landowner Freedom intervened and participated with gusto. In Minnesota, we raised the issue of noise, which as found in the ALJ’s Findngs of Fact, would be too high (lots on noise search the pdf for more) and lack of need for this project, that the applicants were misstating need, claiming we’d all freeze in the dark in an incubator/on a respirator without a job. Over and over, the Applicants’ attorneys asked, “And where were you on June 25, 1998?”

As to noise:

And in the ultimate EQB Order regarding noise:

Regarding the initial Arrowhead-Weston applicants claim, circa 1999, that Arrowhead-Weston transmission was needed, was our finding in the “repository” the proof positive that the June 25, 1998 outage was self-inflicted, that the trip of the line and the resulting wave of outages across the Midwest, was due to the operators failing to ramp down those bulk power transfers that were far over the operating limits for the King-Eau Claire-Arpin line! Here’s that report from the Mid-Continent Area Power Pool, the “MISO” of that day:

And another report entered into the record, another issue of “high exports” that triggered disaster when system couldn’t handle an outage when all that power was being exported:

For these reasons, bulk power transfer was a concern due to utilities’ practice of overloading the system for their marketing gain. Soooooo… the other thing accomplished, other than noise, was a limitation of 800 MVA at the Arrowhead substation, which means that the line cannot be used for extreme bulk power transfer. From the EQB’s Findings of Fact and Order::

… and…

Recently, Minnesota Power has applied for permit from the Public Utilities Commission to “modernize” its AC to DC system, as the converters are ? way, way older than their expected 30 year lifetime. MP’s need statement for the project is based on the age of the DC to AC conversion equipment, that those converters are no longer made, and that parts are difficult to find. Hence, time for replacements to keep that line going.

The Commission did agree to a joint permitting process for “need” and “routing” (a very short line from the old substation to the new one. See PUC Dockets E015/CN-22-607 and E015/TL-22-611:

The purpose of this project is to facilitate use of the Center, ND to Arrowhead substation going forward. That’s a line that Minnesota Power bought a few years back, “for wind,” though I’m not really convinced. That line was built eons ago. Here’s the plan in short, from the application:

There were scoping meetings held for the Environmental “Assessment,” months ago, with comments due September 13, 2023.

Then, the comment period was extended by DOC-EERA for “residents that are farther than 1/4 mile outside of the project boundary.” R-E-S-I-D-E-N-T-S

Bit in swoops American Transmission Company, with a late filed comment with an “alternative” proposal!

READ THIS!

To which Minnesota Power had a well crafted and detailed reply, here’s the gist, but it’s SO well-written, worth a careful dissection:

Then ATC had this to say:

And based on the late ATC filing, Commerce-EERA recommended:

Then issued its Scoping Decision filed December 1, 2023:

BUT, the Commission has a meeting on November 29, 2023, and discussed this EIS Scoping and the ATC Alternative and sent it over to OAH for a contested case.

And then, AFTER the Commission’s Order and Commerce-EERA Scoping Decision is released, long after the Comment period over, ATC submits a CHANGE!

So Commerce-EERA files a REVISED scoping decision, including this new change! REALLY!

I’m recalling that offering system alternatives and routes that did not “meet the need” of the project proponent were rejected out of hand.. but this is OK?!?!?!?!

What ATC is proposing is as Minnesota Power states, a plan to circumvent the Arrowhead-Weston substation limitation of 800MVA by physically, electrically, going around the transformers in the substation!! AND it gets worse, ATC is openly wanting, planning, on EXPANSION! WHAT?!?!

ATC has intervened in these two dockets:

To further this goal, they’ve recruited FIVE (5) big buck Minnesota and Wisconsin attorneys:

And World Organization of Landowner Freedom?

W.O.L.F. is on alert!

What a meeting that was (hmmmm, won’t ebed), the “Permitting Reform Stakeholders Report” starts at 30:30, and whew, at 1:36 !!!:

https://minnesotapuc.granicus.com/player/clip/2303?view_id=2&redirect=true&h=fa21951a27fee09bbfc35bb780443b66

And look who’s been appointed to the Commission — Hwikwon Ham! They couldn’t have made a better choice, he knows transmission and the electric industry, the technicalities, the economics, the background and reality.

Here’s the Governor’s press release:

Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Announce Appointment to the Public Utilities Commission

January 3, 2024

[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the appointment of Hwikwon Ham to serve as a commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

“Hwikwon Ham brings technical expertise and a deep knowledge of Minnesota’s energy grid to the PUC,” said Governor Walz. “I’m confident he will hit the ground running, leading the clean energy transition and providing Minnesotans with efficient and reliable utility services.”

“We are excited to have Hwikwon Ham join the PUC,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “His institutional knowledge and dedication to the commission will be key to ensuring the future of Minnesota energy is strong.”

“I thank Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan for giving me a chance to serve the people of Minnesota,” said Hwikwon Ham. “I will ensure that Minnesotans have reliable and affordable service from their utilities, while positioning Minnesota as a national leader in the clean energy transition.”

Hwikwon Ham is a supervisor for the regional energy program within the PUC. He previously served as energy facilities planning director with the commission. Prior to his tenure with the PUC, he was an energy rates analyst with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. He earned an M.A. in economics from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“Hwikwon Ham’s service to Minnesotans as an expert on the reliability and resiliency of the grid will make him an outstanding public utilities commissioner,” said PUC Chair Katie Sieben. “His training in economics and his deep knowledge of Minnesota’s energy system will enable him to meaningfully contribute to the many complex decisions the Minnesota Commission will make in the years ahead.”

“We need a PUC commissioner who has the expertise and independence to move projects forward that will put our members to work. Hwikwon Ham understands the energy system and is ready to step right in and ensure we can move the energy transition forward in a way that is affordable, reliable and benefits workers and businesses,” said Jason George, business manager and financial secretary, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49.

“Fresh Energy congratulates Hwikwon Ham on his appointment,” said Dr. Brenda Casselius, executive director of Fresh Energy. “With his extensive experience serving the public interest in multiple state agency roles, Ham brings a deep technical understanding of utility markets, economics, and planning to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission—all of which will be key assets for the commission as it takes critical steps to equitably usher in Minnesota’s 100% clean electricity standard and statewide greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission regulates the electricity, natural gas, and telephone services industries in Minnesota – ensuring safe, reliable, and effective utility services. The PUC is a five-member body with legislative and quasi-judicial functions.

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Thoughts on a cool January day:

The meeting is tomorrow, beginning at 10 a.m. at the PUC, though transmission projects is up first.

Webcast here: https://minnesotapuc.granicus.com/player/event/3521?&redirect=true

Here’s the report from the “stakeholder” meetings held on October 6 and 30, and November 20th. Not one of the “stakeholders” has intervened in a transmission or other siting proceeding challenging a project. Where’s the public interest in this?

Not one of the “stakeholders” has intervened in any transmission proceeding challenging the project:

Some of the brilliant ideas: — here’s the WORST: