GWT Rulemaking Reconsideration is 12/6
November 21st, 2018
I often use this photo, because it represents one simple fact: Sometimes things go off the rails. Wind siting in Minnesota is one of those things, we have no wind specific siting criteria!
Thursday, December 6th, we’re back at the Commission, where they’ll address Goodhue Wind Truth’s Petition for Reconsideration, or not (and toss it in the circular file).
Here’s some background:
Wind Rulemaking — Petition for Reconsideration
October 16th, 2018
Today’s Wind Rulemaking Comments
August 24th, 2018
Notice – PUC wants wind rulemaking comments!
August 2nd, 2018
WHEW! Got over the hurdle! Goodhue Wind Truth’s Petition for Rulemaking for Wind Siting, Minn. R. Ch. 7854, has been accepted by the Public Utilities Commission. But even better, Notice came out today of a Comment Period:
Here’s the full notice:
Notice of Comment Period – 20188-145500-01
Now’s the time to get this rulemaking moving, it’s only 23 years overdue!
Just filed – Petition for Wind Siting Rulemaking
July 30th, 2018
Yes, I just filed Goodhue Wind Truth’s Petition for Rulemaking #2, or is it #3… Read Attachment B, the “Statement of Need and Reasonableness” (SONAR), for an eye-opening look on why we’re where we’re at.
Got a wide broadcast using the PPSA Annual Hearing service list. Hope that gets the word out.
We’ve been assigned a docket number at PUC: E999/R-18-518.
March 9 – PUC rulemaking Ch. 7849 & 7850
February 24th, 2017
Yes, it’s been a long march. We’ve been slogging through for years — this Public Utilities Commission rulemaking began in 2012. We’ve been going to these PUC sponsored Advisory Group meetings, holding our own small group and public meetings about these rules, reviewing and commenting, and by we, I’ve been joined by Suzanne Rohlfing, of North Route Group (CapX 2020 intervenor group in Hampton-La Crosse docket) and Marie McNamara, of Goodhue Wind Truth (intervenor group in Goodhue Wind/AWA docket) who have hung in there all these years. So early next month, we’re going before the Commission with the draft rules. Four plus years! It’s about time!
We sorely needed rulemaking, there were major statutory changes in 2005 (2005 Session Laws Ch 97 – Transmission Omnibus Bill from Hell), and substantial holes in the process, which all came out in the CapX 2020 Certificate of Need and Routing dockets (CapX 2020 is why the 2005 statutory changes were rammed through, to facilitate Xcel’s transmission dream). I’ve filed a few Petitions for Rulemaking to push these forward, the one below was 2011!
And we’ve been working on rules for Minn. Ch. 7849 and 7850 for over four years now. The docket was opened and first Comments solicited in December 2012. Finally, this Notice yesterday, that the drafts that will go to the Commission:
And notice of the Commission meeting issued today!
To look at the docket, go to the PUC SEARCH PAGE and search for docket 12-1246. I’ve posted links to the drafts on this docket. It’s important that the public be able to review what’s gone on over the last four years!
And after this, wind rules, Minn. Rules Ch. 7854, are next! Yes, PUC, we will hold you to this!