Xcel wants to sell coal on market… DOH!
January 10th, 2020
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2014/06/CapX.jpg)
How many years have I been saying that the purpose of this massive transmission build-out is to market coal elsewhere? Decades, folks, it’s been decades… And this latest from Xcel Energy, Notice of Comment period just out today, is demonstration that they plan to keep running those coal plants and selling it. Will the Public Utilities Commission care?
Here’s the newly released Xcel Energy plan, and a comment period:
The plan?
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/image-2.png)
Here’s the Notice:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/image-1-1024x203.png)
What to comment about? From the Commission’s Notice:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/image-3-1024x370.png)
Bulk power transfer was the whole point of the transmission build-out, to be able to sell anything generated at any Point A to any Point B. And then coal generated here could be sold elsewhere, eastward via transmission, while we use generation that isn’t quite so dirty (but that’s dirty in its own way). We’re so clean here in Minnesota… NOT! We’ve been a pass through for Dakotas’ coal for a while, and now, they’re asking permission to keep burning coal here and send that energy eastward.
They built all that transmission, no Commission I’ve seen has ever found a transmission plan they didn’t like and roll over for, and now we’re paying for it. Rate increases anyone? Are you paying attention to what’s pushing those rates up?
Why ever would I say that it’s all about selling coal? Well… there’s a bit of a pattern going here. There was the Chisago project, starting in 1996 and three iterations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, not to mention the WRAO report:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/WRAOmap.jpg)
WRAO laid out many transmission lines and the Arrowhead transmission project, circa 1999, was selected as the be all and end all of transmission after many hearings were held, one hearing in Minnesota and THREE before Wisconsin PSC, the price kept going UP, UP, UP!
But then on September 8, 2001, a meeting with likely intervenors to see if they could be convinced to “approve” of the SW Minnesota 345kV line, remember that, Commissioner Matt Schuerger? I pointed out all that coal lined up in the SW MN 345kV study… and from there on to the SW MN 345kV line, part of ABB plan for coal:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/LigniteVision21Map.jpg)
Don’t ya just love that name? It says it all. Why the ABB Lignite Vision 21 Transmission Study? The opening paragraph, linked above, DOH! says:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/image-4-1024x296.png)
The SW MN 345kV line was the part that’s running east to west on the lower part of that yellow map, from Split Rock sub to Lakefield Junction. Some claimed it was an “It’s for WIND!” line, but that’s a lie, just read that ABB study again. The powerflows showed that it wasn’t to carry energy off of Buffalo Ridge, there was just 213-302 MVA coming off Buffalo Ridge into the over 2,000 MVA capacity line:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/Full-size-powerflow-100-0-1024x744.jpg)
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/Full-size-powerflow-50-50-1024x744.jpg)
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/Ex-35-App-7-Conductor-spec-1024x744.jpg)
How stupid do they think we are? Well, money talked, and that money ruled the day. That SW MN 345kV line and the TRANSLink Settlement Agreement and 2005 Transmission Omnibus Bill from Hell (and changes to Minn. Stat. 117.189) laid the groundwork to bring us $2+ BILLION of CapX 2020:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2014/06/CapX.jpg)
And then the MISO MVP 17 project portfolio, now over $6 BILLION:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2020/01/MVP-portfolio-map.jpg)
And then they have the audacity to suggest we need MORE transmission?
Upper Midwest utilities to study transmission grid in light of ambitious carbon reduction goals
So please explain how selling coal generated electricity on the MISO market is consistent with carbon reduction goals?
What a crock…
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2010/02/coal-fire.jpg)
More transmission? They’re nuts!
August 19th, 2019
![](https://nocapx2020.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/CapX.jpg)
I saw this today and it’s nauseating.
First there was CapX 2020 transmission (following Arrowhead transmission, which was supposed to be the be-all and end-all of transmission)(and the SW MN 345kV line, precursor to CapX 2020. CapX transmission was based on a forecasted 2.49% increase in demand, which as we know, didn’t happen.
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/02/Xcel-2018-Peak.jpg)
And there was the MISO 17 project MVP Portfolio:
![](https://nocapx2020.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MVP-portfolio-map.jpg)
Tomorrow, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission is making its decision regarding the Cardinal-Hickory Creek project, the southern part of #5 above, and the LAST of the MVP projects to go through state administrative approval.
So today, this is in the STrib:
Minnesota utilities will study if the $2B CapX2020 grid improvements were enough
By Mike Hughlett Star Tribune AUGUST 19, 2019 — 3:05PM
![](https://stmedia.stimg.co/ows_156623796175084.jpg?auto=compress&crop=faces&dpr=1&w=525)
Photo: DAVID JOLESA utility worker assesses electrical power lines in south Minneapolis.
So that said, here’s Xcel Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan’s Appendix on transmission:Xcel IRP – Appendix I – Transmission & Distribution – from 20197-154051-03Download
The schedule for IRP hearings was just released, it’s in October, so there’s time to make time for it:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/08/IRP-Hearings.jpg)
We know Xcel Energy gets a “handsome” rate of return for transmission capital expenditures (hence “CapX transmission), so of course they want to build more. The IRP is our time to tell them how they should get the electricity they need, whether their plans are making any sense.
How about shutting down some of those coal plants, and freeing up some capacity? How about siting solar on every rooftop, over every parking lot, putting the generation at load so we don’t need transmission? Oh, but wait, that makes too much sense, especially where a utility wants to keep control of the generation, and the expenditures, and rake in the dough.
Time to pay attention to the IRP. URP!
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/08/Pages-from-20186-144403-08_Map_02-1-1024x666.jpg)
Oh my… just in, a request to suspend the permitting schedule for Dodge County Wind, the Certificate of Need, the wind site permit, and to WITHDRAW the transmission route permit!
There are 3 Dodge County Wind dockets, a Certificate of Need (17-306), wind siting (17-307), and transmission (17-308). Process wise, it goes to PUC for approval, and the PUC will probably announce a comment period in all 3 dockets. Then Commission will meet, and approve the withdrawal of the transmission without prejudice, so they can refile when they have a workable plan. That withdrawal process will take some time.
That time is an issue, because I don’t see any way they can come up with a transmission plan and get it through the MISO transmission studies to get a permit and start construction by year end. Tax credit implications — they have a problem.
As to the suspension of Certificate of Need and wind siting application proceedings, I’d like to see them dismissed without prejudice also, not suspended, gumming up the works at the Commission. We shall see.
This transmission was absurd from the get-go, a 345kV line with what, a 2,200MVA capacity, for a 170 MW project? They said it was part of a regional interconnection, from the application:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2018/07/xmsn-regional.jpg)
Oh, really? Don’t see it in the MISO MTEP. It’s not… and it’s a radial line, and you just don’t build short radial 345kV lines!
Here are Dodge County Wind’s requests for suspension and withdrawal:
“On August 9, 2019, DCW withdrew its MISO interconnection queue position no. J441, because of the significant interconnection costs associated with that queue position.”
Oh my… what does the MISO DPP Report have to say about that? Just search this report, issued July 25, 2019, for “J441.”
I figured the PUC should have that MISO report in the record:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/08/Chart.jpg)
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/08/Chart2.jpg)
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/08/Chart3.jpg)
And check out the summary page on p. 149 of the 150 page pdf.
After getting the 345kV route alternatives “C” and “D” ejected, not to be considered in the FEIS, this is just the icing on the cake!!
Dodge Center Xmsn – Mission Accomplished!
Here’s some background info from just over a year ago:
Dodge County Wind info presentation
July 29th, 2018
From the very beginning, with Dodge County Concerned Citizens working hard to inform people of the project, all three dockets, and Dodge Center’s Tom Applegate going door to door and encouraging people to write comments and send photos showing how the transmission line would affect their neighborhood in Dodge Center, this public input helped call the entire project into question. With the DEIS rejecting transmission alternative routes C and D, and with the MISO interconnection study showing so many network upgrades needed at a very high cost, this project is no longer viable. The people affected by this project have had a tremendous impact.
Dodge Center Xmsn – Mission Accomplished!
July 30th, 2019
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/06/DodgeCenterMap-1.jpg)
The Minnesota Department of Commerce issued the Draft EIS for the Dodge County wind project, and about the “C” and “D” route proposals for a 345kV line through the heart of Dodge Center, they had this to say:
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/07/NoCD.jpg)
Here’s the full DEIS Narrative:
This is an example of why it’s crucial to get involved early, that comments must be made at the outset before they have moved into evaluating a proposed route, so that they can consider the input of people on the ground in the initial evaluation. Here, at least 14 people weighed in on the impacts of the C and D routes on their homes and their lives, and that message was heard.
Now’s the time for the City of Dodge Center to acknowledge that it was Tom Applegate’s efforts, alerting the City of Dodge Center and the residents effected by this project’s Route C and D possibility, helping generate the many comments that were filed, that made Commerce’s rejection of these routes a reality.
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/07/DodgeCenter4A6.jpg)
And I sure hope Commissioner Tuma acknowledges what a bad idea routes C and D were and that next time he has a routing idea, that he commits to spend at least an hour on google earth along the route to know what he’s proposing. These two proposed routes were the worst I’ve seen for a 345kV line.
Cardinal-Hickory Creek webcast!
June 15th, 2019
![](https://legalectric.org/f/2019/06/MAP.jpg)
NEXT WEEK, LIVE AT PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, starts 9:30 a.m., they’ll update link just before then:
http://apps.psc.wi.gov/vs2017/eventscalendar/broadcast/livebroadcast.aspx