Legalectric

PUC extends Comment Period with Supplemental Comment due December 5, 2025. Schedule:

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Concerned about energy use of data centers? There’s a docket at the Public Utilities Commission focused on an Xcel Energy Petition of a tariff proposal for data centers. If you’re concerned about data centers sucking energy and that we may have to pay for the energy and infrastructure necessary to support the data centers, now’s the time to actually do something about it — you can “participate” by making comments, attending meetings, but most importantly, you can intervene in the process and become a party.

After Xcel filed its Petition, the Commission opened a Comment period, and with too much going on, I missed it completely! Out of the country, hard enough to get to the train on time, much less track filings at the PUC, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!

There has been one extension already, initial comment deadline of October 13, 2025 and a reply comment deadline of November 5, 2025, and now a request from Minnesota Citizens Utility Board for another extension on this schedule:

With this CUB request for an extension of time for Comment, it’d be good to weigh in with a “me too” and also request more time! Here’s a simple example of how to request a time extension:

What did the Commission want to hear about? A LOT! And it’s COMPLICATED! On its earlier schedule, and even the proposed extension, it’s tough to imagine there’d be enough info to make a reasonable determination on all these issues (and there are likely more not amongst these questions!):

To review the docket, go to eDOCKETS HERE — and in this space, type in the docket number, 25-289:

Then the eDocket will come up and all documents filed will be there, with a link in the left with the document ID, click on it and check it out! At the docket page you can also subscribe, AND more importantly, sign up on eDockets (it’s simple, really) so you can directly upload Comments, and whatever filings — THIS IS IMPORTANT ACCESS AND IMPORTANT SO OTHERS KNOW OF YOUR FILINGS. Help is here: eFiling Help Instructions

Here’s Xcel’s proposal, pages 3-30 of the pdf are the narrative of Xcel’s proposal, and beyond that, the redline of Xcel’s tariff:

Here’s a filing to pay attention to — the Office of Attorney General, Residential Utilities Division. OAG-RUD does a good job of actually representing the ratepayers, and a good resource for information and ideas on positions to take. Here are Comments and a few Information Request responses (good to know what info they are interested in:

Another filing to pay attention to is Commerce-DER, Comments AND also some Information Request responses, and in this Comment they’re also requesting more information:

And while you’re at it, check ALL the Comments, and particularly the information requests that are filed with the two Comments above.

This is a major undertaking that, as noted by OAG-RUD and Commerce-EERA, requires more information and MORE TIME!

Now’s the time, folks, weigh in, and request a time extension for Comments!

Tract has weighed in on the Public Utilities Commission’s docket for Xcel Energy’s Petition for a data center tariff:

Here’s an earlier post with the basic info including Xcel’s Petition and how to dig into eDockets. Check it out, get informed, and SHOW UP IF YOU’RE CONCERNED ABOUT DATA CENTER ENERGY USAGE:

Data Center load tariff?

October 17th, 2025

And so also killed related transmission project?

Whoa, wake up and get up to date!

A recent blurb over the wire caught my attention, Wind Farm Trump Killed Derails a Major Transmission Line (subscribers only), so I’m looking…

Southwest Intertie Project (SWIP)

From CAISO:

Sooooo… Remember the Lava Ridge Wind Project? Ran into that when going through Idaho, they wanted to build it next to Minidoka National Historic Site. (weird, there’s a marching band going past outside the window! SQUIRREL!). The Friends of Minidoka site hasn’t been updated.

Yes, it is true, the wind project is cancelled, and that was “way back” in January, 2025, in that HUGE cluster of emissions from the Trump administration just after the inauguration! How did I miss that Lava Ridge was cancelled? Outlets are saying Trump cancelled it with an Executive Order. All reports are that it was an Executive Order, but no, its a Memorandum, no wonder I couldn’t find it: Temporary Withdrawal of All Outer Continental Shelf Areas From Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of Federal Government Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects (Memorandum of January 20, 2025), which includes:

• Donald Trump Cancels Construction of One of America’s Largest Wind Farms

• President Trump’s executive order protects a small Idaho community from a major wind energy project — at least temporarily

Anyhoo, the wind project was cancelled, and the transmission in the midst of that line? Apparently cancellation of that wind project tanks a transmission project through the area!! Cancellation of the transmission is old news too?

Again, this is what was in my inbox, and I had to follow it up:

• Wind Farm Trump Killed Derails a Major Transmission Line (subscribers only)

Maybe it’s not killed, as I can’t confirm this — there were a lot of recent approvals, granted last administration, grant money from feds, all systems go recently. Some transmission funding has been cancelled, but where’s the list? Since January, no project specific news at all. The transmission line may well be collateral damage from cancellation of the wind project, but inside information? Nothing official that I can find.

About that Southwest Intertie Transmission Project, begun DECADES ago, and for sure delay, delay, delay…

It’s 275 miles of 500kV line. First, the BLM page, and you can see that this project has been in the works for a LONG time:

Southwest Intertie Project (SWIP)

The SWIP Final Environmental Impact Statement is from 1994, over 20 years ago?!?!

And yes, cancelling the wind project is “old news” too, from early August, 2025:

US DOI revokes approval of 1GW Lava Ridge wind project in Idaho

And here’s how Dept of Interior is framing it:

Interior Department Moves to Cancel Reckless Biden-era Approval of Lava Ridge Wind Project

Right after that, the Governor of Idaho signed an Executive Order, mirroring the intent of Trump’s Memorandum:

However you look at it, Lava Ridge Wind Project is dead. The Southwest Intertie Transmission Project (SWIP)? Not clear at all!

Yup, we were there! Got there just before it started, and finagled a spot in the room.

When her name was announced the room erupted with cheers and clapping, appreciation filled the observation room.

It was encouraging to see not only Machado receive the Nobel Piece Price, but to hear the reasons of their choice, primary her resistance to authoritarianism, particularly in this day of increasing authoritarianism. The comments seemed to be a direct hit on Trump, in the speech explaining many specific examples how how she stood up to government authoritarian actions we’re seeing now in the U.S. It also felt like a call to action:

Afterwards, in questions, the Committee Chair acknowledged the threats against Machado, not knowing if it would be possible for her to attend the big ceremony on December, and believing that this award should help support her in her work. Then a reporter asked about the Trump effort to grab the Nobel (I didn’t get the question, had to quick fire up the phone, and haven’t the time to edit), and the Committee Chair said, subtle but clear:

From there, brunch with a great view, best in the house…

And then a quick walkabout at the ferry docks and other amazing boats…

And look, a PISSOAR!

… then off to the Resistance Museum, and a stop at the spot where resisters were executed:

And today is Friday, Red Wing’s 4-5 pm protest, oh, but wait, 7 hours behind, hasn’t even happened yet!

Report on the Statnett’s transmission line through reindeer territory:

Here’s a translation, but accuracy of translation?? And yeah, formatting is an issue…

Here’s the rough route of transmission:

And migration pathways of reindeer:

From fb post of Leif Arne Jåma on Fosen Vind:

The Fosen case I will probably never finish defending the grazing area for our reindeer. The Fosen case continues, only with the addition of new stages. Now it’s time again, this time it’s also about energy, now it’s the transport of the electric power. The largest power line to Statnett is planned to be built through one of the remaining winter pastures for our reindeer. Statnett has set the route

, and it has been assessed and assessed by Statnett’s permanent investigator company. We believe that this report does not measure up, because the investigator shows knowledge gaps about the reindeer’s behaviour and local reindeer herding conditions. The energy authorities (NVE) did not grant expropriation permission, because they are unsure whether the “monster line” could inflict a new human rights violation on us. Mao; The NVE also believes that the report is inadequate.

What do we do then? Well, you have to be pro-active, try to document the facts that are needed, so that the Ministry of Energy has a broad enough basis for deciding the case. Therefore, we contacted the very experienced reindeer herding researcher Jan Åge Riseth and asked if he could assist us. He responded positively, and with the talented Marit Østby Nilsen in addition, we became a solid small team, which together has a broad professional knowledge surface. Riseth is the author of the text and analyses in the report. Our co-creation of knowledge has resulted in a strong scientific report. Among other things, we have gathered experience from reindeer herders who have large transmission lines in their reindeer grazing districts. This was a great help in being able to calculate the impact of the planned power line here. Conclusion: We are not against this 420 kV line being built, but spare the grazing areas and undeveloped nature.

Some info on transmission lines and wildlife, including deer. I’m remembering from the Arrowhead Transmission Project some testimony of UV and deer…

One specifically about reindeer, but it’s OLD, had this even older tidbit:

High voltage transmission lines and their effect on reindeer: a research programme in progress

Lee & Reiner (1983) studied cattle behaviour near an 1100 kV prototype transmission line. The
cattle showed no obvious reluctance to graze or to consume water or salt beneath the 1100 kV line.
However, when the line was periodically turned off, the use of the pasture by the cattle increased.
When the line was re-energized, use of the pasture decreased.

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A case study on the effects of a transmission-line corridor on Sika deer habitat use at the foothills of Mt Goyo, northern Honshu, Japan

Electric Transmission Lines | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Power lines and impacts on biodiversity: A systematic review

Effects of the Physical Presence of Transmission Lines

Wires and Wildlife: Transmission Development and Western Migratory Species

Wildlife and Integrated Vegetation Management on Electric Transmission RoW

Wildlife and electric power transmission – USGS Publications