FERC Order re: Green Power Express transmission
April 12th, 2009
A little over a month ago, ITC Holdings filed a rate request with FERC, and utilities in the Midwest got to it and filed “protests” and petitions to intervene in that docket. FERC had extended the Comment period until March 6, and oh, did they get comments. The Who’s Who of utilities, with big emphasis on the Midwest, “our friends” at Xcel represented in a number of capacities… and even National Wind and Goodhue Wind!
A little birdie dropped off a notice that FERC had issued an Order:
I’ve just skimmed it so far, but it looks like they pretty much gave Green Power Express (a/k/a ITC Holdings) the whole enchilada… what they’re asking for is the ability to recover $$$ before the line is even energized, which is absurd, but that’s what all these utiltiies have been asking for and getting, so it’s not really anything new. Theh difference, it appears, is that ITC is pushing into Xcel’s transmission territory, and Xcel isn’t too happy about it. The Green Power Express is essentially the Midwest part of JCSP and METP 08, but maybe there’s … ahem… a little confusion about just who was going to build that transmission?!?!? FERC accepted responses of GPE to Comments, and accepted a response of MISO to comments (in which MISO is siding with GPE), but they rejected all the others, like Xcel, GRE, etc., the ones opposing GPE. Xcel’s probably not used to getting dissed!
I’m really not sure what to think about this. The project shouldn’t be built, it’s not needed, that’s for sure, and they shouldn’t get rate recovery, that’s also for sure, but I’ve got to give them a few points for butting in on Xcel’s action.
… and now I’ve finally read the whole thing, and it redefines “Shock and Awe” — this FERC Order gives them 99% of what they asked for, and seemed to bend over in doing so, doing everything they can to give Green Power Express the green light, and to start collecting $$$ right away. So we’ll be paying for this, and even if it’s not built, we’ll be paying for it. This transmission binge is reminding me of the nuclear days of the 70s, and we are going to get hit so hard. What are these yahoos thinking?
What next? Well, I hope that Illinois and New York will get to it and let FERC and Green Power Experss that “WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ TRANSMISSION!” New York has been doing a good job thus far giving JCSP the finger, and I hope they continue, because this, logically, will have coal on the wires and will facilitate construction of new coal plants in the Midwest.
Hmmmm… my brain just did a “frolic & detour” — “Coal on the Conductors” just popped in …
Going into the CapX hearing with all this transmission lining up… (she says, shaking her head in disgust)
Xcel’s Hiawatha Project is getting closer…
April 9th, 2009
The Hiawatha Project, Xcel’s transmission line vision/nightmare for Phillips Community in South Minneapolis, is getting closer, moving forward toward an application.
Go to that page and sign up for notices and info if you haven’t already!
Here’s what just came over the wire from RaeLynn S. Asah, Xcel:
Greetings!
You have been previously contacted regarding the Hiawatha project and have expressed interest in keeping up to date on the status of the project.
We are currently finalizing the Route Permit application for the Hiawatha project and plan to file later this month.
As we have been preparing the application, we have been including input from the community on concerns about the project:
* The application will include four possible transmission line route locations and five design options, including the two underground route options that have been discussed (along 28th Street and 29th Street).
* We are including alternative locations for both the Midtown and the Hiawatha substations.
* We are including copies of the various resolutions in the application that reflect the concerns raised by various entities in the area.As part of the filing requirements, various City and County staff and representatives receive copies of the application along with copies at the local library. The filing will also be available on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commissions (PUC) web site (Docket # E002/TL-0938) and on our website. However, given your past involvement, we expect you would may a copy of the application. We would prefer to limit the number of paper copies we print to those that prefer that type of document. We will also provide a CD version to those who prefer that option.
Xcel Energy is committed to working with the community to the extent possible and fully encourages everyone to become involved in the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) process, which is open to all interested parties and individuals. The best way to ensure your organization and constituents stay apprised of project developments is to register with the PUC to be on their mailing list. You can do this by calling the PUC directly as requesting to be included on the mailing list for project docket #E002/TL-0938.
Please contact me as soon as possible to let me know if you would like a copy of the application, the type of document (paper or CD) and the number of copies.
Please feel free to contact me directly, all of my contact information is listed below.
RaeLynn S. Asah | Permitting Analyst | Siting and Land Rights | Transmission, Flr 8 | Xcel Energy | 250 Marquette Ave | Minneapolis MN 55401 | o: 612-330-6512 | fax: 612-573-4011
Transmission for coal – FERC AD05-3
March 21st, 2009
Yes, all this transmission we see, the hard to believe plans of superhighways across the country, MTEP, JCSP, Green Power Express, TrAIL line, Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway, Susquehanna-Roseland, on and on and on, it’s for coal, we know that, but when the truth jumps up and is as in-your-face as it is at this meeting… well, ya gotta read it to believe it. From the FERC docket entitled PROMOTING REGIONAL TRANSMISSION PLANNING AND EXPANSION TO FACILITATE FUEL DIVERSITY INCLUDING EXPANDED USES OF COAL-FIRED RESOURCES (really, that’s the name…):
Here, from p. 61, is a tantalizing snippet from the Pres. of PJM:
PJM is certainly proud of what has been accomplished to date to open up markets to coal, but there is much more that we and others in this region can do to further enhance that use of coal.
It is for this reason that, today, PJM is setting out by example, a new initiative which we have labeled Project Mountaineer — appropriately titled for the state that we’re in — to utilize our regional transmission expansion planning process to explore ways to further develop an efficient transmission super highway, if you will, to deliver the low-cost coal resources in this region of the country, to market.
And to actually build it when people don’t want it over their land, don’t want to look at it, don’t want the EMF impacts? Well, they say…
About the only answer to that would be some sort of federal siting law that would basically overcome local property rights.
National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors anyone? This was in 2005… as the CapX Technical Report was about to be published, putting all of this into action… sigh….
To look up the entire docket, go HERE and search for AD05-3, and voila, there it is for your edification and reading enjoyment!
It’s all for coal, we know that, and we’ve got to NOT let them get away with this!
Susquehanna-Roseland hearing yesterday!
March 21st, 2009
PPL gets earful at Saw Creek public hearing
Nearly 300 come out for Bushkill power line hearing
Bushkill power line hearings draw hundreds
Let’s take a look at their SEC filings!
Some utility toady on commenting on one of the articles above suggested I buy PPL stock… right… good idea…
David Morris – Grids and Grids
March 12th, 2009
Last week, David Morris had a great transmission piece in Grist — I’ve been sick, in la-la-land, and am just catching up:
Grids and grids
A smart grid, yes. A new national grid, no.
Posted by David Morris (Guest Contributor) at 11:19 AM on 04 Mar 2009
The new mantra in energy circles is “national smart grid.”
In the New York Times, Al Gore insists the new president should give the highest priority to “the planning and construction of a unified national smart grid.” President Barack Obama, responding to a question by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, declares that one of “the most important infrastructure projects that we need is a whole new electricity grid … a smart grid.”