More FAKE NEWS from Center of the American Experiment
April 21st, 2018
Center of the American Experiment is at it again, twisting obvious facts, and losing credibility in the process, well, not that they have any… They must be getting paid big bucks to continue this distortion and disinformation campaign. And maybe it’s just an attempt to get their name out there, as if they’re a “think” tank, and not a tank of hot air.
Your Taxes, My Friend, Are Blowing in the Wind
There are issues with wind, particularly about siting — the way projects steamroll into communities, putting up turbines too close to people who are already there — bringing the nuisance to the people where the community does not consent. Very valid issues, particularly where wind companies, on top of that, are violating their permits. We as a society need to address these issues now so that people are no longer steamrolled, and we need to figure out a way to deal with projects already improperly sited. If not, well, it’s hard to imagine how any wind project could be sited going forward!
What’s Center of the American Experiment up to? This time, it’s about wind subsidies, and they’re again milking that bogus report for whatever they can — please read it carefully and rip it apart — it’s not worth the mb it’s printed on:
What’s wrong with their take on subsidies? Well, they’re on a rant about taxes and pick out wind subsidies, because they want to bash wind, but they don’t address the subsidies for all other sorts of generation. DOH! That means that the issue isn’t subsidies, it’s wind.
Worse, they start out about Warren Buffett and tax benefits he gets from his wind projects. Yup, that’s there. But earth to Mars, he has a lot more invested in coal.
Warren Buffett owns BNSF which ships coal around the Midwest. BNSF is also a major Bakken BOOM! oil transporter, the impetus for the $5 billion Amtrak deal with BNSF for rail, crossing, and safety upgrades.
Warren Buffett owns the MidAmerican Energy Center, 4 coal plants, which includes the “Walter Scott, Jr. ” 790 MW coal plant — the largest in Iowa. It cost $1.2 billion to build, and was completed in 2007, just in time to start utilizing the biggest transmission build-out in history!
Just the Facts – Walter Scott, Jr. Energy Center’s New 790 Megawatt Unit
Center of the American Experiment says about transmission that:
Transmission is needed for all generation, none but rooftop solar is at the load. Cost of transmission is not in any PPA. FERC requires that transmission not discriminate against or favor particular types of generation — what is there is what goes over the wires. And whatever the generation source, cost of transmission does show up in rates. Utilities get more from capital investments, a/k/a as transmission, than from selling electricity.
And then there’s the basis for that transmission build out — to displace natural gas with coal:
And “the cost of running conventional power plants as backup sources of electricity” Natural gas peaking plants are what’s used for backup for wind, they kick in only when needed, and that’s not often. Further, solar follows peak. Back up occurs when the variable source isn’t running, it’s not simultaneous, not duplicative, DOH! It’s duplicitous!
As to rates: Xcel’s rate case 15-826, is there for reading, but you seem to ignore the filings. Center of the American Experiment has been silent on Xcel’s e21 “business plan” rate scam and the current bill to change cost review and rate recovery for Prairie Island. Where’s theirconcern about rates when rates are at issue? Oh, right, weighing in on a rate case might involve facts.
Enough of Center of the American Experiment’s repeated disinformation, misstatements… just stop.
dRump’s Michel Cohen in court – a first hand report
April 19th, 2018
Michael Cohen’s happy face
Colin Kalmbacher done good, this has got to be the most hilarious hearing of the year:
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Why Sean Hannity’s Name was Revealed in Court (Hint: It’s Mostly Michael Cohen Attorneys’ Fault)
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Top 10 Times Michael Cohen and Donald Trump’s Attorneys Got Schooled in Court
And a quick summary from Kalmbacher:
Colin Kalmbacher A lot of people have asked for a general run-down. Here’s a brief attempt:
(1) Lines were long and the SDNY was a media circus–Eliot Spitzer showed up to glam for the cameras;
(2) The attorneys waiting to get in were confused by the press presence at first but quickly understood and started arguing about the issues involved with FBI raid, quickly agreeing that no lawyers should be raided;
(3) Stormy Daniels and Michael Avenatti showed up with minutes to spare and almost didn’t get in–but Avenatti pulled some strings;
(4) The prosecution is competent but non-controversial;
(5) Aside from saying things like “Michael Cohen has more attorneys than clients.”
(6) Cohen’s attorneys went to Upstairs Hollywood Law School and tried their level best not to make any legal arguments–mostly cabining their advocacy on public policy and fairness;
(7) Trump’s attorney annoyed everyone on multiple occasions and the less said the better;
(8) The Trump Organization was just happy to be there–very gracious, very confused-sounding, submitting themselves to the mercy of the court for some reason–they just wanted to take part in the privilege determinations but didn’t really say anything;
(9) Judge Kimba Wood showed no obvious preferences and did her best to make everyone a little upset
(10) The press amici killed it and is half of the reason we know about Sean Hannity–the other half is Steve Ryan’s incompetence.
And then there’s this… law is such fun!
The Supreme Court just handed the Trump administration a loss on immigration — and Gorsuch was the tiebreaking vote
Northern Metals rears its ugly head in Becker
April 16th, 2018
Northern Metals was violating its MPCA permit, it also lit on fire. Ultimately, it was run out of town.
So now it goes to Becker. How will it NOT violate its permit there? Oh, right, MPCA will be so lax about it that violation would be a logical, legal, and physical impossibility.
Muller on Northern Metals (primary docs here) March 26th, 2012
From today’s EQB Monitor:
Project Title: Northern Metals, LLC – Becker
Comment Deadline: May 18, 2018
Project Description: Northern Metals, LLC plans to construct a scrap metal recycling center in the general industrial area in the City of Becker. The Project consists of an enclosed metal shredder, an enclosed metal recovery plant, an end of life vehicle process, and a Community Recycling Center (CRC). The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will host a public meeting on the proposed expansion of the Northern Metals, LLC – Becker project May 10, 2018, at the Becker Community Center located at 11500 Sherburne Avenue, Becker, MN. The event will begin with an informal open house from 6:00 to 6:30, followed by a presentation from the MPCA and a question and answer session. The MPCA will provide information about the draft air emissions permit and the environmental assessment worksheet (EAW). A copy of the Notice of Availability and the EAW can be found on the MPCA website at the following address: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/eaw [per Kevin Kain, it’ll be posted afternoon 4/16/2018] Minn. R. 4410.100 subp. 1.D.
Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU): Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
RGU Contact Person:
Kevin Kain
520 Lafayette Rd N
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-757-2482
kevin.kain@state.mn.us
Waiting for the perp walk…
April 11th, 2018
How much longer…
I’m getting 2-4 emails daily from tRump or his minions begging for money. This morning’s subject was “WITCH HUNT.” Get over it… it’s an investigation.
From the New York Times, that radical rag:
The Law Is Coming, Mr. Trump
The waiting is getting a bit much, though. Each day, something so absurd and extreme happens, usually by this crank with no business being president, no restraint, no critical thinking, no ethical base, no outward focus. Let’s get this over with, NOW!
Xcel Energy’s 2017 peak demand – DOWN again
April 3rd, 2018
Once more with feeling, Xcel Energy’s peak demand is DOWN, DOWN, DOWN! From their year end SEC filing: Xcel Energy 2017 10-K
And over the last 17 years:
That 8,546 MW is down 1,313 from the 2006 peak. Xcel is now at legislature pushing hard for free rein on money to rehab its Prairie Island plant here in Red Wing. The same plant that was being rehabbed, got a Certificate of Need, and then they withdrew it saying it wasn’t needed. Oh… and now? It’s not adding up, folks.