It’s been a busy couple of weeks, vacation where time was not my own and now the scramble to get caught up.  Just before leaving, I signed on with North Route Citizens Alliance, and North Route Citizens Alliance signed on with me, and I dove into the Prehearing Conference on Wednesday, hung up, and ran to the airport — “Seattle, next stop!”  So there’s a lot of catch up to do to get the lay of the land — this is a long route covering a lot of territory.

North Route Citizens Alliance (NoRCA) has joined with NoCapX 2020 and United Citizens Action Network for the Fargo to St. Cloud part of CapX 2020 transmission!  NoRCA’s primary concern is the extreme proliferation of some of the CapX 2020’s route proposals — new routes proposed over sensitive areas rather than following Minnesota’s “non-proliferation” policy of PEER, and rather than follow the newer law favoring use of pre-existing easements and holding PUC accountable to explain if they don’t.

Here’s the PEER decision:

People for Environmental Enlightenment and Responsibility v. EQC

And here’s Minnesota’s new criteria taking another step to utilize existing corridor, down at the bottom of HF1182, authored by Rep. David Bly (don’t forget to say thanks!):

from Chapter 288

(e) The commission must make specific findings that it has considered locating a route for a high-voltage transmission line on an existing high-voltage transmission route and the use of parallel existing highway right-of-way and, to the extent those are not used for the route, the commission must state the reasons.

Here’s their sign, and it’s available for $10 – go to their site to order one:

And here’s our Amended Petition to Intervene, Amended after Judge Heydinger threw up some unreasonable hurdles, requiring us intervenors to be incorporated, sans any statutory or regulatory basis for that requirement:

NoCapX, U-CAN & NoRCA Cover Amended Petition and Exhibits

We’re off to the races… and next week is full with a road show of DEIS hearings for the Fargo-St. Cloud route:

Notice of DEIS Release and Public Meetings

The meetings “for comment” (notice they’re not “public hearings” anymore) will be held along the route from September 27 – September 30:

September 27, 2010

1:00 p.m.

Barnesville American Legion

101 – 2nd St. SE

***

7:00 p.m.

Fergus Falls

Bigwood Event Center

925 Western Avenue

September 28, 2010

1:00 p.m.

Elbow Lake

Dream Weaver’s Banquet Facility

410 2nd St. NE

***

7:00 p.m.

Alexandria

Broadway Ballroom

115 – 30th Ave E

September 29, 2010

1:00 p.m.

Melrose

Rondezvous Grille

401 Main Street East

***

7:00p.m.

Albany

Paul’s Par-A-Dice

451 Railroad Ave

September 30, 2010

1:00 & 7:00 p.m.

St. Joseph

El Paso Sports Bar & Grill

200 – 2nd Ave N.W.

Be there or be square!