Off to a great start in Fairmont
Today is the start of a three day series of transmission meetings, and we started with a good crowd here in Fairmont for this afternoon’s meeting.
Fairmont Area Residents Voice Opinions Over Proposed High Voltage Transmission Lines
It’s the ITC Midwest MN/IA line, from Lakefield Jct. to Huntley, then south to IA, and ultimately off to Madison…
I’ve got a handout, with a few things for people to consider, most importantly, WRITE UP SOME COMMENTS BY MAY 9!
The most important part of this whole proceeding is that this is NOT needed. It’s wanted, it’s desired, but that’s not need. Just because they want to build it and make money is not sufficient reason for them to take people’s land and charge Minnesotans even one dollar for this project! The DEIS quotes ITC’s need statements, and accepts them, using the ITC framing.
ITC is a transmission-only company. ITC wants to build transmission so it can profit from building it and from providing transmission service.
This afternoon, I’m mostly concerned about Section 4 of the DEIS, “Alternatives to the Proposed Project.” And as I commented, in looking at “Alternatives to the Proposed Project,” there’s really no alternative to their transmission for profit project, other than putting money directly in their pockets!!!
Some problems with the DEIS, omissions, clarifications, additions needed:
- The DEIS should define “need.”
- The DEIS should specify what capacity are they wanting, and what they want it for. ITC claims that a lower voltage line “would be unable to provide enough capacity to improve reliability or support additional generation.” p. 49. OK, so what capacity is that?
- Every time the DEIS says “need,” it should change that to “want” or “desire.” That would make it a lot easier to understand.
- To the extent that it is claimed that this project is “to enable new wind” and “deliver existing and future wind generation” it must document how it is assured that wind is enabled/delivered, mindful that FERC specifies that transmission cannot discriminate and must serve all types of generation, and there’s a lot of coal coming in from the west.
- The DEIS “Alternatives” section says “ITCM notes that the need for its project has been substantiated by its own studies and by those of MISO.” Ummmm, the only option considered by ITCM and MISO is transmission, it’s a transmission-only company and a transmission operation, DUH! “Additionally, MISO conducts studies to determine those projects that best meet identified transmisison needs.” Oh, and those “identified transmission needs” are… ????
- PROMOD modeling is ECONOMIC modeling.
- There is a lot of surplus generation west of this project (see p. 48 of DEIS referencing “even more surplus generation that must be exported to regional load centers…”
- “Different size” is not limited to “different voltage” and “different endpoints.” For transmission, size = capacity.
- The DEIS correctly states that “ITCM is an electric transmission company; it does not operate electrical generation plants or provide retail electric service.” GOOD, that’s TRUE! Now, what does that mean when considering how ITCM frames this project?
- “In conclusion, while the 161 kV rebuild alternative may have potential for reduced human and environmental impacts, ITCM’s analysis indicates that it is less effective than a 345 kV line at meeting the need for the project.” Ummm., SO? What’s the state’s independent analysis? Isn’t this what an EIS should be?
There were a lot of great comments, my favorite was Helen Lee (Lea?) Murphy who has a way with words, and noted we need an MLK or Nelson Mandela to challenge this line! She also had a reasonable request, asking for another week to send in comments.
Many people were concerned about the EMF, and recognize the dangers of transmission. It seems that the perception is that transmission lines are dangerous! GOOD! This is a pretty basic fact that has been hidden for way too long.
KEYC – Mankato News, Weather, Sports –
Speaking of which, here are the three documents I put into the record, pertaining to ultra violet related to transmission, associated with corona, and a byproduct of transmission, two patent applications and a study:
US5986276 – APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELIMINATING X-RAY HAZARDS FROM ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION
EP1691461A1 – ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM SUPPRESSING CORONA DISCHARGE FROM VIEWPOINT OF
ENVIRONMENTEPE_2013111816011292Â The Ultraviolet Detection of Corona Discharge in Power Transmission Lines
There were a lot of people from Sherburn promoting the Modified Route A, particularly concerned about the church, and about the impact of the line if ot goes on the south side if I-90:
In the Fairmont Sentinal:
Power line generates comments
April 23, 2014
“If something were to fail with those lines, it would be catastrophic,” Mixer said.
Health concerns also were expressed by others in attendance.
There also were concerns about property values.
E-mail:
On to the next meeting…
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