No CapX 2020

CapX 2020 Brookings-Hampton transmission line is before the Public Utilities Commission on July 13, 2010.

This is our chance to storm the Bastille - but you have to sign up ahead of time to speak — they’re altering their process, disturbing that they see fit to do this now, to add another layer of “chill” to get through for people to speak out.  Don’t let that stop you!

SIGN UP!!!!

Call 651-296-0406 or 800-657-3782 (”Option 1″) or email PublicComments.puc@state.mn.us — tell them your name, phone number, and group affiliation if any.  CONTACT THEM by Monday, July 12 @ 9:30 a.m.

Here’s the MOES Staff Recommendation to the PUC, from their Brookings-Hampton page:

REVISED Staff Briefing Papers - Narrative

There are SO many maps, here’s how to find them:

1. www.puc.state.mn.us
2. then click “Search Dockets “
3. search for 08-1474.

Here’s the map of the proposed Minnesota River Crossing near Belle Plaine:

Maps CH 61-72 - eFiling No: 20107-52223-06

ONCE MORE WITH FEELING:

SIGN UP!!!!

Call 651-296-0406 or 800-657-3782 (”Option 1″) or email PublicComments.puc@state.mn.us — tell them your name, phone number, and group affiliation if any.  CONTACT THEM by Monday, July 12 @ 9:30 a.m.

PUC MEETING TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT AND ORAL ARGUMENT

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 @ 9:30 a.m.

Public Utilities Commission

121 - 7th Place East, Large Hearing Room

St. Paul, Minnesota

Wondering how to celebrate Bastille Day this year?  Come on, let’s storm the PUC!

Now’s the time to start figuring out your Public Comments for the PUC on the Brookings routing docket.

CAPX 2020 BROOKINGS ROUTING DOCKET

COMMENTS AND ARGUMENTS ON TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2010

DELIBERATE ON THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010.

Notice is coming out tomorrow, Bob Cupit was kind enough to let us know that the PUC will hear Public Comments, and also Oral Arguments of the parties (all 2 of us!):

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 @ 9:30 a.m.

Public Utilities Commission

121 - 7th Place East, Large Hearing Room

St. Paul, Minnesota

Here’s a memo from Bob Cupit explaining the process:

PUC - Brookings Scheduling Memo

There are some important rules here to be aware of for those of you PUBLIC COMMENTERS — from the memo:

YOU MUST PREREGISTER TO SPEAK.  Call 651-296-0406 or 800-657-3782 (”Option 1″) or email PublicComments.puc@state.mn.us — tell them your name, phone number, and group affiliation if any.  CONTACT THEM BY JULY 12 @ 9:30 a.m.

• Public comment will be taken in the order in which registration was received.
• Each person will have three to five minutes to speak.
• Persons who wish to speak are encouraged to provide summary positions on the facts in the case record.
• Please note that all comments from previous public hearings are in the official record, presented on pages 1-2 through 155 of the Report of the Administrative Law Judge, and reviewed by the PUC Commissioners prior to the meeting.  Because the hearing record is closed, no new evidence can be accepted.  However, commenters may provide written documentation that supports summary positions.  Nine (9) courtesy copies of any written submissions are encouraged but not required. [NoCapX Comment: BRING COPIES - THIS HELPS THEM FOLLOW YOUR COMMENT!]
• Persons associated with one of the formal parties listed below should expect their positions will be presented during oral argument by the parties.

Get ready… we’ve got about two weeks.

Here’s the ALJ’s Recommendation for a little light reading:

FINAL Recommendation for CapX 2020 Brookings-Hampton route

And don’t forget that the St. Cloud-Monticello routing docket is before the PUC on Thursday, July 8th, at the tail end of the agenda!

ALJ’s Recommendation for St. Cloud to Monticello

The last Brookings CapX 2020 transmission line public hearing is tomorrow, December 28, 2009, in New Prague.  This is it folks, the last chance to let the judge know in person what you think of CapX 2020, the last chance to show the judge in person your photos of your land that CapX could cross, to let him know in technicolor what this means to you.

New Prague Public Hearing

December 28, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Knights of Columbus

411 - 4th Ave. S.W.

New Prague, MN

And you can send in Public Comments until at least the end of January — the deadline will be one week after publication of the final EIS, which is now delayed, at least two weeks BECAUSE THEY GOT SO MANY COMMENTS!!!  Send your comments to:

Judge Richard C. Luis

Office of Administrative Hearings

P.O. Box 64620

St. Paul, MN
55164-0620

fax 651-361-7936

e-mail capx.oah.state.mn.us

Beginning tomorrow, three weeks of hearings on Brookings CapX 2020 routing …  the schedule is below, way below.

YOU, yes, YOU, can question witnesses, YOU can testify, YOU can enter exhibits, in short, YOU can tell the ALJ just what you think of the CapX 2020 transmission line.  YOU can question their witnesses to ferret out the truth!

How do you ferret the truth from a weasel?  Who knows… but that is our job.  Let’s get to it!

First, the easy part — Written Comments.

Written comments regarding the route permit should be submitted directly to Judge Richard Luis. Comments may be submitted by U.S. Mail, Fax or email. Comments will be accepted through January 15, 2010, and should include the Office of Administrative Hearings Docket Number: 7-2500-20283-2.

Mailed comments must be post marked by that date. Faxed, emailed, and delivered comments must be received by 4:30 P.M. that date.  Send to:

Judge Richard Luis
Office of Administrative Hearings
P.O. Box 64620,
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0620
Fax: (651) 361-7936
email: capx.oah@state.mn.us

Here’s the important part of the notice:

Members of the public will be allowed to participate without the necessity of intervening as a party. Representation by legal counsel is permitted but not required. Participation includes: a) offering direct testimony; b) offering testimony or other material in written form at or following the hearing; and c) questioning witnesses.

Any person who wishes to question a witness, but does not want to ask the questions, may submit questions in writing to the ALJ, who will then question the witness. Questions may be submitted during the hearing or may be sent to the ALJ in advance of the hearing. A transcript of the proceedings will also
be available on request.

Got that?  “ANY PERSON!”  That’s YOU!!  This is important because most people do not have the ability to intervene in a PUC proceeding, and yet people affected by this project, any project, have a lot to say.  No one knows the area better, no one knows the impacts, no one knows or can describe in technicolor why it’s a stupid idea better than the people on the ground.

QUESTIONING THEIR WITNESSES

If you want to question witnesses, first, figure out what you want to question them about.  Start by figuring out what witnesses there are, who is saying what, and you can do that by going online and looking at their prefiled testimony.  It’s easy…

1. Go to the PUC’s “SEARCH DOCKETS” page
2. Search for Docket 08-1474.
3. Look at the testimony they’ve filed — once you look at it you’ll see it’s not all that complicated.  Look for “GRE” and there’s Direct Testimony filed on October 13, and Rebuttal filed on November 20.

Their witnesses are:

Craig Poorker - GRE’s Manager of Land Rights - before that, he worked for Chisago County on Rights of Way and so I’m sure knows all about how NSP/Xcel is undergrounding the Chisago project down the west bank of the St. Croix River Valley!  Let’s ask him about that.  Pam Rasmussen too, as she was part of that project for a decade or more.  Poorker’s testifying about routing, impacts on the river valleys, why they won’t consider undergrounding, etc.

Kevin Lennon - check his Rebuttal about transmission lines and pyrotechnics!

Dr. Peter Valberg - he’s the utility toady who testified for NSP back in the SE Metro line, where we had Dr. Martin Blank as a witness (he testified last Monday in the Susquehanna-Roseland transmission case, they were out of their league, he did an excellent job).  Here’sDr. Blank’s testimony, a delightful counter to the likes of Valberg:

Testimony of Dr. Martin Blank

Pam Rasmussen - here’s the part I don’t get.  Usually she testifies about “environmental” issues, and here, she’s testifying about EMF and in her Rebuttal, stray voltage.  SAY WHAT?!?!?!  I don’t recall that she’s an engineer or has had training in EMF… very strange.

Take a look at their testimony, and start to write down your questions.  Talk it over with friends or family who are interested in this to formulate them so that you’ll get some kind of answer.

TESTIFYING YOURSELF!

YES, you too can testify.

• Plan ahead.
• Write it out SUCCINCTLY.
• Have a copy to hand in for the record, and have copies to hand out to CapX and others  (send to local paper the day before!)
• Have a few copies of exhibits that you want to talk about, i.e., EMF research, a recent appraisal, photos of eagle nests in the neighborhood, etc.  The issue here is routing, so look over the maps and notice what’s missing, because there’s always a lot.  Let them know that there are four houses on your road missing from the maps; that if they run it through the field by the road, it would disturb an anthrax field (!!!);  let them know that you have just gotten a permit to build a barn or you’ve got plans to put in an irrigation pivot right where they want to put their (#*)(*$(*^% transmission line!  Let them know if you would plan to utilize the “Buy the Farm” option (Minn. Stat. 216E.12, Subd. 4).  Let them know your mortgage company would take any eminent domain compensation that you might get.  Tell them what you know about your community or the area they want to traverse.
• Get there a little early and let the judge know you want to testify, and he’ll put you on the list.
• When it’s your turn, either take the oath or affirm, then your testimony will carry more weight.
• Give your testimony.
• Answer any questions that parties or the judge may have.
• You’re excused, congratulations for speaking out!
• Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same.

ENTER EXHIBITS

You can enter exhibits.  Bring copies of things you think will help show the judge why a particular route is a really bad idea, things like the aforementioned:

• Photos of eagle nests that you’ve taken and can identify the locations of the nests.
• Photos and maps of arns, businesses and homes they want to go over — give a face to the place!
• Provide copies of appraisals that show the devaluation of your property.
• EMF studies and cases.
• Photo simulations of transmission towers in river valleys showing impacts.
• Photo simulations of substations at night looking and sounding like an intergallactic space station.
• Other ideas???

If you need help, let me know in the comment section.  I’ll be going to some (but not all) of these meetings, and will help you state your case however I can.

Here’s the schedule for the CapX road show:

EVIDENTIARY HEARING DATES & LOCATIONS

November 30 (Monday)

2:30 & 7 p.m.

Prairie’s Edge Casino, 5616 Prairie’s Edge Lane, Granite Falls, MN

_____________________

December 1 (Tuesday)

1 & 7 p.m.

Best Western, 1500 E. College Drive, Marshall, MN

_____________________

December 2 (Wednesday)

1 & & p.m.

Redwood Area Community Center, 901 Cook Street, Redwood Falls, MN

_____________________

December 3 (Thursday)

1 & 7 p.m.

Winthrop Vets Club, 206 North Main Street, Winthrop, MN

_____________________

December 7 (Monday)

1 & 7 p.m.

Brass Top Hall/Hog Wild Saloon, 514 Main Street, Henderson, MN

_____________________

December 8 (Tuesday)

1 & 7 p.m.

Lonsdale VFW, 115 2nd Avenue SW, Lonsdale, MN

____________________

December 9 (Wednesday)

1 & 7 p.m.

Park Ballroom/American Legion, 300 So. Lexington Avenue, New Prague, MN

____________________

December 10 (Thursday)

1 & 7 p.m

and

December 11 (Friday)

Holiday Inn, 20800 Kenrick Avenue, Lakeville, MN

____________________

December 15-18 (Tuesday - Friday)

9:30 a.m. - ????

PUC - 121 - 7th Place E., 3rd Floor, St. Paul

The Brookings CapX 2020 evidentiary hearings begin November 30, and it’s a road show across southern Minnesota.  See schedule below.

Also, I’d noticed the numbers are off on the amps on the charts for their EMF modeling calculations (and amps mean everything).   SO, I found the chart, they’re way off, but not by a factor of 10 as I’d thought!  For the line configuration, 115kV 945kcmil ACSS the amperage is more like 12

Conductor Specs - SW MN 345kV Exhibit 35, Appendix 7

Here’s the relevant part, remember the range they modeled for was 3xx amps to 1,1xx amps (don’t have it here and can’t remember) and the one furthest to the left was 874 amps.  The chart is in chapter 6:

874 amps is about half of what the line is rated for.  The column on the far left is the amps, and the column on the far right is the size in kCmil of the conductor.  The columns in between are the various MVA ratings, and the yellow highlighted ones are for bundled 954kCmil, MVA of 2068-2085.  So the amps can be far higher than what they say, meaning the EMF levels will be far higher.

EVIDENTIARY HEARING DATES & LOCATIONS

November 30 (Monday)

2:30 & 7 p.m.

Prairie’s Edge Casino, 5616 Prairie’s Edge Lane, Granite Falls, MN

_____________________

December 1 (Tuesday)

1 & 7 p.m.

SMSU Upper Conference Center, 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN

_____________________

December 2 (Wednesday)

1 & & p.m.

Redwood Area Community Center, 901 Cook Street, Redwood Falls, MN

_____________________

December 3 (Thursday)

1 & 7 p.m.

Winthrop Vets Club, 206 North Main Street, Winthrop, MN

_____________________

December 7 (Monday)

1 & 7 p.m.

Brass Top Hall/Hog Wild Saloon, 514 Main Street, Henderson, MN

_____________________

December 8 (Tuesday)

1 & 7 p.m.

Lonsdale VFW, 115 2nd Avenue SW, Lonsdale, MN

____________________

December 9 (Wednesday)

1 & 7 p.m.

Park Ballroom/American Legion, 300 So. Lexington Avenue, New Prague, MN

____________________

December 10 (Thursday)

1 & 7 p.m

and

December 11 (Friday)

Holiday Inn, 20800 Kenrick Avenue, Lakeville, MN

____________________

December 15-18 (Tuesday - Friday)

9:30 a.m. - ????

PUC - 121 - 7th Place E., 3rd Floor, St. Paul

From Rep. Steve Drazkowski on CapX 2020 transmission:

—– Original Message —–
*From:* rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn <mailto:rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn>
*To:* Announcements >From Representative Steve Drazkowski <mailto:rep_steve_drazkowski_list@ww3.house.leg.state.mn.us>
*Sent:* Tuesday, October 20, 2009 3:25 PM
*Subject:* Email Update: CapX 2020 meeting

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note here to tell you that State Representative Tim Kelly and I will be holding an informational meeting in Mazeppa on October 27 regarding the proposed CapX 2020 transmission line proposal.

The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Mazeppa City Hall and Community Room, 121 Maple St., on Tuesday, October 27.  Officials from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Xcel Energy and other organizations will also be in attendance and will share their views on the project.

There’s no question we need more transmission infrastructure and now is the time to plan for it.  But there are also significant landowner concerns regarding potential routes for the power lines.  I would encourage any area property owner that could be affected by this proposal to attend this informational meeting and offer your suggestions and questions regarding the routing decision-making process.

Talk to you soon,

Steve

Steve Drazkowski
State Representative
District 28B
Room 247 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155-1298
Office: 651-296-2273
Fax: 651-297-7523
Toll Free: 888-683-3436
Sign up for email updates at _http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/join.asp?id=15286_

Clear off your calendar and get ready for this week’s assignment — the CapX Brookings EIS.
We’ve got a while to review it and comment, but it is a job we MUST do and it’s not fun and it’s tedious and infuriating beyond belief, SO, LET’S GET TO IT!

Here’s the link:

BROOKINGS DRAFT EIS

Start writing down your comments, what’s missing, gather supporting documents to back up your comments…

Public meetings begin next month (notice it’s public MEETINGS and not public HEARINGS?!?!):

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING DATES & LOCATIONS

November 12, 2009 (Thursday)	November 13, 2009 (Friday)	November 16, 2009 (Monday)
1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. & 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Lonsdale American Legion 115 2nd Avenue Southwest Lonsdale, MN	1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. & 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites 20800 Kenrick Avenue Lakeville, MN	1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Prairie’s Edge Casino & Resort 5616 Prairie’s Edge Lane Granite Falls, MN 56241
November 17, 2009 (Tuesday)	November 18, 2009 (Wednesday)	November 19, 2009 (Thursday)
1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. & 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Best Western 1500 East College Drive Marshall, MN	1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. & 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel 39375 County Highway 24 Morton, MN	5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Brass Top Hall/Hog Wild Saloon 514 Main Street Henderson, MN

Here’s the latest on the hearing schedule for the Brookings Routing proceeding.  Karen Hammel of Commerce just sent this out, and I’d guess that there will be  a Scheduling Order incorporating the changes from the pre-existing Scheduling Order.

Final Brookings Hampton Meeting Schedule - Sept 24, 2009

What bothers me about this is that MOES’ Hammel essentially pushed back the DEIS Public Meetings (note they’re not calling them “Public Hearings?”) back a week, so that most of them are the week of the 16th rather than the week of the 9th, and it just so happens that I’ve got the Susquehanna-Roseland hearing that week of the 16th.  GRRRRRRRR and double GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Here’s the dates and locations part of the chart (it might be slow loading), click the link above for details:

Yes, folks, it’s this coming TUESDAY!!!

The many CapX 2020 Motions for Reconsideration are on the docket for July 14, 2009.  Note that they may or may not take public comment, so the agenda says and the Minnesota Rules allow.

If’ you want to come to the PUC for the show, the meeting starts at 9:30.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @ 9:30 a.m.

Public Utilities Commission

3rd Floor - Large Hearing Room

121 - 7th Place East

St. Paul, MN  55101

Here’s the agenda item — #3 on a not very long list:

3. E002/CN-06-1115

Great River Energy;
Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy

In the Matter of the Application of Great River Energy, Northern States Power Company (d/b/a Xcel Energy) and Others for Three 345 kV Transmission Lines.

Should the Commission reconsider its May 22, 2009 Order Granting Certificates of Need with Conditions? (PUC: Eknes)

The Commission has the authority to accept or decline a petition for reconsideration with or without a hearing or oral argument. (Minnesota Rules 7829.3000, Subpart 6) In other words, a decision on a petition for reconsideration can be made without taking oral comments at the Commission meeting. If you have questions about this particular docket, please contact Bret Eknes at 651-201-2236.

Here’s the Order at issue

Order Granting CoN with Conditions

And here are all the Reconsideration pleadings:

Applicants Request for Reconsideration

MOES - Reconsideration

CETF Petition for Reconsideration

CETF Attachment A

CETF Attachment B

NoCapX & U-CAN Motion for Reconsideration

Ex A - Surprise drop in power use

Ex B - Xcel 2008 Summary

Ex C - Otter Tail Corp SEC 10-K

Ex D - EIA Electric Power Monthly Chap 5

Ex E - 2008 NERC Reliability Assessment

Ex F - Press Release Sandok 4-3-09

Ex G - MTO Study Reports 3-31-09

Ex H - NYISO & ISO-NE 2-4-09

Ex I - JCSP 08 Executive Summary 2-8-09

Ex J - NY Testimony - US Senate Energy

In the Red Wing Republican Beagle (picked up from the Kenyon Leader):

Transmission line proposal floors some area residents

And in the Houston County News:

Feds make entrance into CapX 2020

By Ryan Stotts of the Houston County News

The U.S. Agricultural Department’s Rural Utilities Service officially has begun looking into the proposed CapX2020 high-voltage line project.

The federal agency hosted a meeting June 23 at La Crescent’s American Legion to collect public comment and explain the review process.

The service will do a single environmental impact statement for the project, said Stephanie Strength of the RUS, which will be the lead federal agency on the project.

Dairyland Power Cooperative had approached the RUS about financing its portion of the project, an estimated 11 percent, she said.

It will take at least two years to complete the federal review and make a funding decision, she said.

Dairyland first asked the agency about funding at least three years ago, said Chuck Thompson of Dairyland Power. It would take Dairyland 30 to 35 years to repay the approximately $50 million needed.

The environmental impact statement, including comments from the meeting, likely will be completed by summer 2010, followed by a public hearing, Strength said.

Tim Carlsgaard, of CapX2020, said they have identified dual routes for the 345-kilovolt power lines along existing routes into La Crosse, Winona or Alma, Wis., but a preferred route has not been chosen.

Also yet to be determined is where the lines would cross the Mississippi River, he said.

Lines could run along or just north of Interstate 90, then cross south into La Crescent, he said.

If the lines go into Winona, he said, the route could run through agricultural land north of I-90. The Alma route would run through farmland north of Plainview.

A routing permit application will likely be filed some time in the fall, Carlsgaard said, and that will start a 12- to 15-month process when more public meetings will be held.

Early in the process, he said, after the Office of Energy Security has a chance to review the application, people will be able to propose and suggest alternative routes.

“Whether it’s just a small segment,” Carlsgaard said, “a small area, or 20 miles, or whatever it is.”

On the Wisconsin side, he said, a single routing and need permit will likely be filed before the end of the year.

Jeremy Chipps, of the Citizens Energy Task Force, said the massive project isn’t needed — and the group has petitioned the state to look into whether it should be built.

Chipps said even the most “sophisticated electric minds” in the industry, on a state and federal level, are doubting the efficacy of such a project.

He believes localized renewable energy should be investigated and analyzed, he said.

But, Chipps said, the truth is “the country lacks the very analytical tools to do the research to find out what our needs will even be.”

With federal coffers now being opened to fund the project, the decreasing demand for power, as well as safer alternatives than CapX2020, should be scrutinized, he said.

Gene Semin of La Crescent Township said he supports the project, even though he already has two large power lines in front of his house.

“We’re going to need the electrical power in this country to develop our manufacturing base so that our economy can recover,” Semin said.