Xcel’s Hiawatha Project in MinnPost
February 8th, 2009
This article was in MinnPost on Friday, somehow I missed it — Steve Berg did a great job spelling it all out. Perhaps Xcel will get the message that they’ve really screwed up and need to do this differently?
Here’s the referenced Minneapolis City Council Health, Energy and Environment Committee’s Resolution:
And here’s Steve Berg’s article in toto:
Power lines over the Midtown Greenway? A classic case of destroying a place to save it
Xcel’s Hiawatha Project sent to Committee
January 10th, 2009
Well this is interesting… to put it mildly… Xcel’s Hiawatha Project, transmission through Phillips, is in the news.
A move to “delay its application… until it provides a more thorough analysis of the need an alternatives” and that if line is “needed,” to bury it under 28th Street is deemed “trying to get the council to adopt a position without public hearings or notice?”
Hmmmmmmmmmmm…
Now Xcel claims the need for the Hiawatha Project is based on the “South Minneapolis Load Service Study,” but cannot or will not produce a copy of that study. They say it is not completed yet… Oh, and so you’re wanting this line for what????
And then I find that there’s also a “South Minneapolis Electric Reliability Project” where they want to run a 345kV line from Hwy. 280 to the new Hiawatha Project substation.
As discussed, but not quite yet formally proposed, Xcel’s Hiawatha Project would have a substation somewhere near 28th & Hiawatha, and the line would go east through Prestigious East Phillips to near the old Honeywell site near 35W.
Don’t forget, there are three meetings coming up, one held by the community, and two others by Xcel:
Community Forum on Xcel’s Hiawatha Project
Sponsored by the Phillips Community Energy Cooperative, the Greenway Coalition, and others
Monday, January 12, 2009
At Plaza Verde
1516 East Lake Street
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
… and an Open House, another opportunity to dig into this project and find out what’s really going on:
Xcel Energy’s Public Open House on the Hiawatha Project
Thursday, January 15, 2009
At Plaza Verde, 1516 East Lake Street
Noon to 2:00 p.m.
and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Search this site for “Hiawatha Project” for background information.
Minneapolis council diverts power-line issue
“We have a responsibility outside an empty room,” Council Member Lisa Goodman said.
Xcel’s Hiawatha Project – Forum & Open House
December 19th, 2008
Xcel’s Hiawatha Project is sitting there like the fart in the elevator, and I’m wondering what they’re doing in the back rooms of Minneapolis City Hall when we’re not looking.
Two events coming up in January:
Community Forum on Xcel’s Hiawatha Project
Sponsored by the Phillips Community Energy Cooperative, the Coalition, and others
Monday, January 12, 2009
At Plaza Verde
1516 East Lake Street
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
… and an Open House, another opportunity to dig into this project and find out what’s really going on:
Xcel Energy’s Next Public Open House on the Hiawatha Project
Thursday, January 15, 2009
At Plaza Verde, 1516 East Lake Street
Noon to 2:00 p.m.
And 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
CLICK HERE FOR XCEL’S HIAWATHA PROJECT SITE
Here’s something to make your head scratch… the project is based on a study of south Minneapolis, which they confirm on their site:
OK, so where is it? They won’t produce it! Local stakeholders have asked nicely, they even say “PLEASE?” and nope, no study. Contact Betty Mirzayi (betty.mirzayi[at]xcelenergy.com), Pam Rassmussen (pamela.jo.rasmussen[at]xcelenergy.com) and Paul Adelmann (paul.adelmann[at]xcelenergy.com) and ask them for a copy of the South Minneapolis study that’s the basis for the Hiawatha Project.