Only in Red Wing, a “company” town
September 8th, 2014
Last night we went for another picnic, this time near home, at Memorial Bluff. They’ve spent a lot of time, money, and effort to rehab the park, and at the Upper Stone Quarry, have put in the most amazing stone picnic tables and benches, HUGE hunks of rock. The trail near our old house on 8th is now dubbed the “Cow Path,” apparently they regularly herded cows up to the top to graze!
We went to the Upper Quarry, and again picked the table with the view:
Yes, it’s got the “best view,” but look at this! Who would put a picnic table directly under a transmission line, with the upfront close and personal view of this transmission tower? What were they thinking? Not everyone has an affinity for transmission!!!
But some do — we were joined by two flapping and calling birds, hawks or immature eagles, who hung out on top of the structure objecting to our presence. Lighten up, birds!
Hollydale at the PUC tomorrow!
April 9th, 2014
Xcel’s request for withdrawal of its Hollydale Transmission Project Certificate of Need and Route Permit Application is before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission tomorrow. We’re 4th on the agenda. Come on down, or watch it live!
Live Webcast
And look how a decision came down in Chino, California! There was a transmission line through the community for a long, long time, and it was “inactive” for a long, long time. Then one day, the utility started taking down the towers that weren’t being used, and stuck new bigger ones in their place. Thankfully, the story didn’t end there — they had to take the poles down and underground that transmission line:
Here’s the Chino Hills group’s website:
Electric demand is down… down… DOWN!
October 28th, 2013
What’s new? Well, Xcel Energy has announced its 3Q results and the 2013 demand just keeps going down!
From Seeking Alpha, the 3Q call transcript (emphasis added):
Kit Konolige – BGC Partners, Inc., Research Division
On the — your sales growth outlook, I believe you said that you are expecting 0% to 0.5% in 2013. Can you discuss the breakdown by states on that and maybe any color about commercial versus industrial versus residential? And also give us a view of the longer term sales outlook that you’re seeing at this point?
Teresa S. Madden – Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President
Well, sure, Kit. Let’s start with the 2013 by the states. Minnesota, we’re still projecting a decline of about 1.2%. In NSP-Wisconsin, just a slight decline. And then the other 2 jurisdiction, PSCo slightly up and SPS at about 1.2% range. But all of it netting to within the — up to 0.5%. When we look to the future, we’re looking at about, as we indicated in our guidance up to 0.5%, those are narrowing, not such a great degree in terms of the decline in NSP-Minnesota. In terms of the various classes of customers, it does vary by jurisdiction. I will say that C&I, we see the most growth in Texas with the oil and gas industry boom.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL TRANSCRIPT.
Let me repeat that tidbit:
Minnesota, we’re still projecting a decline of about 1.2%. In NSP-Wisconsin, just a slight decline.
And as we know too well, the CapX 2020 transmission project taking over Minnesota is based on their wishful-thinking projections of a 2.49% annual increase.
From Xcel Energy’s own investor page (click to enlarge):
Here’s the full 10-Q (above from p. 50):
Someone remind me — why are we paying to build this CapX 2020 transmission project?
Not-so-Great Northern Transmission Line Comments
January 16th, 2013
Comments were due today on Minnesota Power’s request for Exemptions from the rules governing content of Applications for a Certificate of Need for a transmission line.
Look at the red on that map — potentially affected areas where MP is looking to put a transmission line. WOOOOO-EEEE, that’s a lot of land!
Minnesota Power’s proposed Great Northern Transmission Line is inching along in the Certificate of Need process. Here’s Minnesota Power’s site:
And to look at the full docket, go to www.puc.state.mn.us, click on “Search eDockets” and search for 12-1163. The application is expected sometime in March or so, but I’d guess it will be later.
Here’s how they plan to let people know about the project — it was filed a while ago, Comments were due, and I tried and tried to get people to comment, oh well, here’s what was filed about the Notice Plan filed in October and the Comments filed in November:
That’s sitting at the PUC now. So where are we? Just starting out… Here’s a diagram of the hoops for the PUC process, edited a bit by yours truly for handouts at the meetings a couple months ago, we’re at the very first box in the chart:
Today, comments were due on the Minnesota Power request for Exemptions from some specific rules, Reply Comments, that is. Here’s what’s been filed:
Minnesota Power Exemption Request
Notice Plan – “Not-so-Great” Northern Transmission Line
November 19th, 2012
Today Comments were due on Minnesota Power’s Great Northern Transmission Line. I’m sorry, but I just can’t bring myself to call a transmission line “Great” and that’s just how it is… Anyway, Minnesota Power is getting ready to file a Certificate of Need application, this is the lead up, what they have to do to provide notice to people when they actually file. So here’s their draft plan:
Minnesota Power’s Notice Plan for Great Northern Transmission Line
Comments on that plan were due today. Here’s what I filed:
Here’s what Commerce filed earlier today:
Haven’t gotten word on any others.
To keep an eye on what’s going on in this docket, go HERE and search for docket 12-1163.
A little sidebar here — while looking for a logo, some things popped out — did you know that Minnesota Power sponsors, with the Lignite Energy Council, a “Teachers Seminar” on coal? It’s the only teacher workshop listed, though there are multiple listings under “School Programs” and “Educational Materials.”
OH MY! Check their “Electricity 101” pdf:
p. 7:
1929—Stock market crash revealed that many holding companies were over-leveraged
–As a result, federal and state governments strengthened utility regulation.
There are some interesting charts and graphs in Electricity 101 that are interesting and that I’d like to see updated. Hear that, MP!?!?!
