The IGCC pipedream continues to fizzle
June 16th, 2010
A little birdie has been looking around at Mesaba — but first…
Here’s a report of an obvious problem with IGCC from John Blair, Valley Watch— the pipedream is just that, and the truth that those of us in the midst of coal gasification know too well is finally coming out publicly:
Carbon capture plans failing – IEA
“Much greater effort will be needed to meet future deployment levels,” it said.
Meanwhile, the little birdie… We’ve been in this odd and unenviable place, a big horrible coal gasification plant, the Mesaba Project, promoted by Excelsior Energy, a shell corp with nada for assets, which demanded a Power Purchase Agreement then denied by the PUC, and yet inexplicably granted a siting permit for not just “one” but TWO projects totalling over 1,000MW of IGCC! OH… MY… DOG! So it’s in limbo land, and we’re wondering how on earth this thing stays on life support as it rots away…
The little birdie had this report:
Excelsior Energy was supposed to have filed a new air permit, and the MPCA was supposed to have reviewed the 2006 air permit application “to assure that the protocol was acceptable to federal land managers.” Well, that didn’t happen, the “review” by MPCA OR the filing of the new air permit, which was supposed to have been filed last week.
… and the little birdie while looking around found this in their “Frequently Asked Questions” on their site, then scroll down to “View common transmission misconceptions” to p. 2:
Myth: The Mesaba Project will force wind energy off from the transmission grid.
Hmmmmmmmmm…
And this “Myth” section is a lot like their letter to Commerce regarding EIS Scoping Comments:
Anyway, I’d like to see this blog posting they’re referring to! Misinterpreted? Naaaaaaah, it’s all the interpretations of those presenting and reviewing at the MAPP meeting. Their claims are sorta like the matter of using a site with existing infrastructure:
I wonder what it was that blew their dress up… could it be:
So now it’s deliverable??? SWAG! January 9th, 2007
They caaalll Mesaaaba liiiars… November 25th, 2006
It’s all about this study — READ IT FOR YOURSELF:
Anyway, their air permit application was submitted, and it is a mess. The rules have changed. We’re waiting for the next Air Permit application, which will be… when???
Mesaba Project appellate decision
May 18th, 2010
It’s out, and although the court rejected the arguments of Excelsior Energy saying they didn’t get enough out of the PUC, and rejected the arguments of Minnesota Power and Xcel Energy, the bottom line is that the Public Utilities Commission won, their Order stands, and so in a small way, Excelsior Energy has “won.”
There were three issues before the court:
I. Did the commission err in determining that the Mesaba project is an IEP under Minn. Stat. § 216B.1694, subd. 1?
II. Does Minn. Stat. § 216B.1694, subd. 2(a)(7), require the commission to undertake its traditional public-interest evaluation?
III. Was the commission’s application of the IEP statute to Excelsior’s PPA arbitrary and capricious or unsupported by substantial evidence?
Bottom line?
We defer to the commission’s expertise as to the definition of the technical term ―traditional technologies.‖ The commission’s decision that the Mesaba project is an IEP is supported by substantial evidence.
The commission has the statutory authority to consider the public interest in evaluating the terms and conditions of an IEP’s PPA. Its decisions in this regard are supported by substantial record evidence and are not arbitrary and capricious. Accordingly, the commission did not err in concluding that Excelsior’s proposed power-purchase agreement with Xcel is not in the public interest under Minn. Stat. § 216B.1694, subd. 2(a)(7).
Here’s the full decision, issued today at 10:00 a.m.
May 18, 2010 Excelsior Energy-Mesaba Project Appellate Decision
Tomorrow – Excelsior Energy Appellate Decision
May 17th, 2010
Word is out – tomorrow we’ll know whether the Appellate Court thinks that Excelsior Energy qualifies as an Innovative Energy Project under Minnesota statutes. Stay tuned…
Tom Micheletti in Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office?
February 25th, 2010
So what is Tom Micheletti doing in Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office?
Why is Senator Klobuchar entertaining more stories, fiction like “The Virtues of Coal Gasification in Northern Minnesota?”
Enough of Klobuchar and her pandering to fossils and their fuel – time to vote her OUT!
Mesaba Siting Recommendation?!?!?!
December 30th, 2009
WTF?
The ALJ’s recommendation has come out in the Excelsior Energy Mesaba Project docket and he’s recommended that a permit be issued. Really…
This is the judge who tossed out my client, Public Intervenors – Mesaba, Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power because we didn’t file testimony. Show me in the rules where filing testimony is required…
THERE WERE NO PARTIES IN THIS DOCKET, JUST EXCELSIOR ENERGY.
Read it for yourself:
I’m at a loss about what to say…