{"id":4243,"date":"2012-07-17T14:55:30","date_gmt":"2012-07-17T21:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/?p=4243"},"modified":"2012-07-17T17:49:59","modified_gmt":"2012-07-18T00:49:59","slug":"citizens-league-and-electrical-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/?p=4243","title":{"rendered":"Citizens League and &#8220;Electrical Energy?&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.citizensleague.org\"><strong>Citizens League<\/strong><\/a><\/span> has an &#8220;Electrical Energy&#8221; project sponsored by none other than Great  River Energy, Xcel Energy, District Energy and University of Minnesota  Energy Management:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.citizensleague.org\/what\/policy\/advancement\/energy\/index.php\"><strong>CITIZENS LEAGUE ELECTRICAL ENERGY PAGE<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>So what is <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.citizensleague.org\"><strong>Citizens League<\/strong><\/a> <\/span>doing &#8220;to develop and advance policy recommendations?&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 What are the sponsors after?\u00c2\u00a0 Looking at  their report, it seems the focus is on advancement of utility desires  for utility benefit and profit, and given the assumptions in this  report, I don&#8217;t want to see ANY 0olicy recommendations come out of it.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s the report:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2012\/07\/496rptdefining-the-outcomes-of-mns-ideal-electrical-system.pdf\">Electrical Energy Project, Phase I Working Document: Defining the Outcomes of Minnesota&#8217;s Ideal Electrical Energy System<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>They&#8217;ve hosted several meetings across the state so far and there are more to come:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2012\/07\/worksite-6512.pdf\"> Worksite June 5, 2012<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2012\/07\/minneapolis-cl-policy-series-62112.pdf\">Minneapolis June 21, 2012<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2012\/07\/st-paul-62612.pdf\">St Paul June 26, 2012<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2012\/07\/morris-7919.pdf\">Morris July 9, 2012<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Upcoming Meetings (click date\/location link for their page for that meeting):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/s\/C3FYVK2\"><strong>July 24 &#8212; Rochester<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n5:30-7:00 p.m.<br \/>\nUniversity Center Rochester<br \/>\nMain campus building, room CF206\/208 in Coffman<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=851+30th+Ave+SE,+Rochester,+MN&amp;hl=en&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=37.273371,86.396484&amp;hnear=851+30th+Ave+SE,+Rochester,+Minnesota+55904&amp;t=m&amp;z=16\" target=\"_blank\">851 30th Ave SE, Rochester<\/a> (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.rctc.edu\/campustour\/maps\/buildingmaps.html#ucr\" target=\"_blank\">building map<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/s\/SNQRKWS\"><strong>July 25 &#8212; Maple Grove<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n6:00-7:30 p.m.<br \/>\nGreat River Energy<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=great+river+energy&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;fb=1&amp;gl=us&amp;hq=great+river+energy&amp;hnear=0x52b2d4cee4e9379f:0xc87291d23fda2e29,Saint+Paul,+MN&amp;cid=0,0,9055412194508411927&amp;t=m&amp;z=16&amp;iwloc=A\" target=\"_blank\">12300 Elm Creek Blvd N, Maple Grove 55369<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/s\/RKW7LM3\"><strong>July 31 &#8212; St. Paul<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n5:30-7:30 p.m.<br \/>\nRondo Community Outreach Library, Multi-Purpose Room<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=461+N.+Dale+St.,+St.+Paul,+MN&amp;hl=en&amp;sll=44.95499,-93.126351&amp;sspn=0.010143,0.022724&amp;hnear=461+N+Dale+St,+St+Paul,+Minnesota+55104&amp;t=m&amp;z=16\" target=\"_blank\">461 N Dale Street, St. Paul<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>So what&#8217;s the problem?\u00c2\u00a0 In large part, it&#8217;s how they&#8217;re framing the problem!<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It starts off with a sense of urgency &#8212; &#8220;We must start now, before  crises arise.&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 &#8220;Now is the time to act.&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 &#8220;We must confront these  issues now, before they reach a crisis point.&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 &#8220;This is the time to  ask:&#8230;&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 But it&#8217;s years too late,\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 In 2002 the wheels were set in  motion to put us where we are today with the enviros deal to support  CapX 2020 and other transmission, and then their support of the 2005  Transmission bill:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2010\/03\/settlement-agreement-02-2152-me3-waltons-mcea-nawo.pdf\">Settlement  Agreement &#8211; ME3(Fresh Energy), Izaak Walton League, Minnesota Center  for Environmental Advocacy, North American Water Office<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2009\/08\/8millionwow.pdf\">$8.1 Million Wind on Wires grant from McKnight\/Energy Foundation<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2012\/07\/mcea_capx_factsheet.pdf\">MCEA CapX Fact Sheet<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2012\/07\/chapter-97-revisor-of-sta.pdf\">2005 Ch 97 &#8211; Xcel transmission perks and C-BED <\/a><\/p>\n<p>After all this, it&#8217;s waaaaaaay too late!\u00c2\u00a0 With CapX 2020, we&#8217;re now  committed to 50+ years of central station business-as-usual power.\u00c2\u00a0 It&#8217;s  too late to create a &#8220;vision.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>Report operates on false and outdated presumptions of need &#8211; of  demand for electricity, of infrastructure needs and reliability.\u00c2\u00a0 Claims  &#8220;we cannot assume we&#8217;ll use electricity in the same way in 30 years as  we do today,&#8221; but with CapX we&#8217;ve just locked in to another4 50 years of  central station power.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Xcel itself admits dramatically reduced  demand, both peak and energy demand, significantly to alter forecasts to  0.5% and 0.7% respectively:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2012\/07\/ex-4_xcelenergyresourceplanupdatedec2011.pdf\">Xcel&#8217;s Resource Plan Update &#8211; Dec 2011<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Look at the reserve margins (p.46 et seq.) in the<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nerc.com\/files\/2011%20LTRA_Final.pdf\"><strong>NERC 2011 Long Term Reliability Assessment!<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>They talk a lot about retail rates, and that &#8220;the price of  electricity has been rising over past decades; however, this increase  has not kept up with inflation.&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 This is a REGULATED industry!\u00c2\u00a0 Rates  have kept up with utility costs, and I guess it&#8217;s a safe bet that retail  rates have NOT dropped in relation to the crash in wholesale costs.\u00c2\u00a0  Wholesale rates are so low, and have been for so long, that they  probably owe us one massive refund!\u00c2\u00a0 So what is this section supposed to  mean?\u00c2\u00a0 (see p. 8-10).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Green House Gas emissions are way down, they state that it is due to  a &#8220;reduced reliance on coal.&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 How about impact of decreased demand for  electricity, decreased burning of coal, focused on lower need, not  &#8220;reduced reliance.&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 There&#8217;s a difference!\u00c2\u00a0 Xcel&#8217;s Sherco is down, has  been for what, a year now?\u00c2\u00a0 Xcel&#8217;s Black Dog is down, Minnesota coal  plants are not running and it has nothing to do with a choice in fuel,  but more to do with unplanned explosions at the generators at a time  when that capacity is not needed!\u00c2\u00a0 At least we presume the explosions  are unplanned.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Claims of inefficiency belie the reliance on transmission and CapX  2020 and other commitments to continued use of transmission that is  inherently inefficient, and to plan to use it even more inefficiently in  transferring bulk power over long distances.\u00c2\u00a0 &#8220;It would be inefficient  to invest heavily in infrastructure with a life cycle of 100 years, for  example, if a key resource supporting that system is expected to become  rare or expensive in 20years.&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 Well DUH, but that&#8217;s exactly what we&#8217;ve  done, what we&#8217;re doing, with CapX.\u00c2\u00a0 Anyone making noises about  efficiency has no business promoting transmission!\u00c2\u00a0 And yet look at the  plans promoting transmission across the country!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2009\/02\/jcsp08-xmsndream.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2902\" title=\"jcsp08-xmsndream\" src=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/f\/2009\/02\/jcsp08-xmsndream.jpg\" alt=\"jcsp08-xmsndream\" width=\"399\" height=\"322\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>No way do they want our transmission out to the Mid-Atlantic:<\/p>\n<h2><a title=\"Permanent Link to East Coast Governors STAND UP AGAIN!\" rel=\"bookmark\" href=\"https:\/\/legalectric.org\/weblog\/5571\/\"> East Coast Governors STAND UP AGAIN!<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>Throughout, this report does not distinguish between transmission  and distribution issues, but it should!\u00c2\u00a0 Particularly in discussing  outages, and even in the discussion of &#8220;back-up generators for business&#8221;  where reliability does NOT presume back-up generators as redundancy!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Pay attention to the order of &#8220;Key Characteristics of the Electrical System&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 &#8212; RELIABILITY is not first!\u00c2\u00a0 It&#8217;s about money!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Appears to advocate for perpetual motion in stating &#8220;A system that  cannot continue indefinitely without bankrupting the participating  people or institutions cannot be sustained.&#8221;\u00c2\u00a0 Very odd concept of  economic viability.\u00c2\u00a0 Energy systems will always require more input that  what is received as output.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As I look at this report, and its trajectory, it seems like a prelude  to a dis!\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps increased rates for lower MWhr sales, or perhaps  even claiming unused and unneeded coal plants as stranded costs!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Citizens League has an &#8220;Electrical Energy&#8221; project sponsored by none other than Great River Energy, Xcel Energy, District Energy and University of Minnesota Energy Management: CITIZENS LEAGUE ELECTRICAL ENERGY PAGE So what is Citizens League doing &#8220;to develop and advance <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/?p=4243\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4243"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4249,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4243\/revisions\/4249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nocapx2020.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}