Mesaba Project at the PUC on August 14th
August 5th, 2012
Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba Project, the coal gasification plant that will not die, is returning to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on August 14, 2012.
At that time, they’ll address whether the original project’s permits apply to this project, and whether this one, under Minn. Stat. 216B. 1694, requires additional environmental review:
**6. E6472/GS-06-668 Excelsior Energy, Inc.
In the Matter of the Joint LEPGP Site Permit, HVTL Route Permit and Pipeline (Partial
Exemption) Route Permit Application for the Mesaba Energy Project in Itasca County.
Should the Commission find, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 216B. 1694 subdivision 3, that the
site and route permits issued on March 12, 2010 for the Mesaba Energy Project are deemed valid
for a natural gas fired plant located at the same site and that no additional environmental review
is required under applicable state rules?
This docket has been one of the longest strangest trips ever, a coal gasification plant that wasn’t needed yet fed by state and federal money, using CO2 capture and storage that does not, can not, and will not exist. Here’s some history:
Health Benefits of Coal (ya gotta read this one, HILARIOUS!)
Mesaba – Extend the Hearing! (the hearing was a farce)
And why are we here on the 14th? The PUC granted a Site Permit to the project f/k/a Mesaba Project, the coal gasification plant:
Then it starts getting complicated, Excelsior sends PUC letter saying it wants confirmation that the permits issued for the Mesaba Project coal gasification plant are valid for a natural gas plant, and that it would require no further environmental review:
And then Excelsior chimes again disclosing not much of anything about their “plan” for this gas plant:
And then the Comment period is extended and we get another bite:
And now we’re off to the races…
In the Duluth News Tribune:
Mesaba is baaaaaack!
June 11th, 2012
Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba Project has raised its ugly head again. There were rumors for a long time that Micheletti wanted to change it to a natural gas plant. Then they went to the legislature and got the “incentives” for their boondoggle “clean coal” plant, the “innovative technology” that doesn’t work… they went to the MPCA and their air permit was AGAIN rejected as incomplete, and now they’ve gone to the PUC, requesting confirmation that the permits they have are valid. Oh, PUH-LEEZE!
Here we go again…
mncoalgasplant.com will be filing comments, no doubt about it!
Would the PUC doesn’t transfer projects like this without amending the permit application, without verification of what indeed it is they want to do? If you take the original ALJ Decision, the Permit Order and the Permit itself, redact everything related to coal gasification, what’s left? Not much! We need to know what they’re planning (if anything, this remains the vaporware project from hell).
This is the letter filed by Excelsior Energy — I don’t recall having received it, but will dig through the piles here, they DO have my correct address (though I note that they sent to Excelsior’s Evans, Greenman and Harrington at their OLD address!):
Here is the PUC’s Notice of Comment Period, first round due June 29, 2012:
And what’s most disturbing is the legislative change in 2011, supported, DEMANDED, by Gov. Dayton:
Subd. 3. Staging and permitting.
(a) A natural gas-fired plant that is located on one site designated as an innovative energy project site under subdivision 1, clause (3), is accorded the regulatory incentives granted to an innovative energy project under subdivision 2, clauses (1) to (3), and may exercise the authorities therein.
(b) Following issuance of a final state or federal environmental impact statement for an innovative energy project that was a subject of contested case proceedings before an administrative law judge:
(1) site and route permits and water appropriation approvals for an innovative energy project must also be deemed valid for a plant meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) and shall remain valid until the earlier of (i) four years from the date the final required state or federal preconstruction permit is issued or (ii) June 30, 2019; and
(2) no air, water, or other permit issued by a state agency that is necessary for constructing an innovative energy project may be the subject of contested case hearings, notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, parts 7000.1750 to 7000.2200.
Here’s the link to the full Minn. Stat. 216B.1694.
Excelsior Energy Air Permit Incomplete
January 5th, 2012
It appears Tom Micheletti, Excelsior Energy, is having another bad day. The Air Permit for the Mesaba Energy Project was rejected by the MPCA as incomplete, modeling not approved, the list goes on and on… Yes, that’s “our” Mesaba, the coal gasification power plant that can’t get a Power Purchase Agreement if its life depended on it, and yes, its life does depend on it.
MPCA Letter – Mesaba App Incomplete – Dec 30 2011
Thank you, Air Quality at the MPCA, for making my day!
Responses to Excelsior Energy articles in DNT
August 24th, 2011
For background on this Excelsior Energy scam known as the Mesaba Energy Project, just search on that link and here on Legalectric for Excelsior, Mesaba, gasification, boondoggle, etc.!!!!
If you search their site, what is most noticeable is the changes, lots is missing, for example, on their “About Us” page, their “Our Team” is missing a lot of people. Here’s what it used to say:
Excelsior Energy | Print Page |
Excelsior’s executive team has significant utility and power plant experience including all of the following aspects of large energy projects, planning, development, engineering, financing, permitting, construction and operation.
Executive Team Julie Jorgensen Co-President and CEO Thomas Micheletti Co-President and CEO Thomas Osteraas Senior Vice President and General Counsel Dick Stone Senior Vice President, Development and Engineering Robert Evans Vice President, Environmental Affairs Kathi Micheletti Vice President, Government Relations William Ruzynski Vice President, Development Mary Day Controller
Additional Senior Personnel
The following senior industry experts work with Excelsior Energy on a regular basis
Stephen Sherner Sherner Power Consulting Bruce Browers Browers Consulting
It’s just a remnant of its former self.
Anyway, the Duluth News Tribune articles were published:
Millions in public money spent, but Iron Range power plant still just a dream
Iron Range energy project seeks lifeline in more funding, new fuel source
… and then came some responses, first from the paper’s editors standing up against this boondoggle (finally!), and then from Julie and Tom:
Published August 23, 2011, 12:02 AM
Our view: Taxpayers have right to answers on Excelsior
What happened to our more than $40 million?Even then, what was reported often was incomplete.
And, perhaps most pressing of all to taxpayers, what happened to our more than $40 million?
Here’s what Julie Jorgensen and Tom Micheletti had to say in response:
Published August 24, 2011, 12:00 AM
In response: Excelsior Energy project is an important energy option for state
By: Julie Jorgensen and Tom Micheletti, Duluth News TribuneThe Mesaba Energy Project, under development by Excelsior Energy, is a unique public/
We at Excelsior Energy take our obligations under our
The project is nearing the end of this complex governmental-
Julie Jorgensen and Tom Micheletti are co-CEOs of Excelsior Energy Inc.
Duluth News Tribune on Excelsior Energy scams
August 24th, 2011
For years and years, I represented mncoalgasplant.com opposing this wretched boondoggle of a pipe-dream of “clean” and “green.”
The project lingers on, on life-support, and pulling the plug is long overdue.
The good news is that the Duluth News Tribune is finally paying attention, and looking into the financial irregularities. Duluth News articles are here, and next will be some responses.
It started with an article in Duluth News Tribune, first in a series, the second below:
Published August 21, 2011, 09:40 AM
Millions in public money spent, but Iron Range power plant still just a dream
By: Peter Passi, Duluth News Tribune
Yet Micheletti said he’s stopped making predictions as to when Excelsior will build its first plant.
How much more pay Micheletti and Jorgensen have received since 2006 has not been publicly disclosed.
Part II of the Duluth News Tribune series on Excelsior Energy:
Published August 22, 2011, 12:30 AM
Iron Range energy project seeks lifeline in more funding, new fuel source
By: Peter Passi, Duluth News Tribune
* EARLIER: Millions in public money spent, but Iron Range power plant still just a dream
Gone are state funds, including:
# $10 million from the Minnesota Renewable Development Fund.
“We’ve got staying power to see our way through this,” he said.
Sen. Tom Bakk, D-Cook, supported Excelsior’s request.
“There’s much less risk from an investor standpoint,” he said.
But Anzelc said Excelsior still lacks one essential: a customer.
“To my knowledge, no on in the power business is supportive of this project,” he said.
Even the revamped natural gas plant plan could be a tough sell, however.
Minnesota Power’s Mullen described what he considers “a flat market” for power generation,
But he’s not counting Excelsior out.
“You have to give them credit for their tenacity,” Mullen said.