2 TV news reports on Obama and CapX 2020
Wake up, folks!!! Great job by cohorts Suzanne Rolfing of NRG and Joe Morse of CETF.
Maybe this will help to get the word out:
KAAL TV(Austin, MN) – featuring Suzanne Rohlfing of North Route Group (NRG)
WKBT TV (LaCrosse, WI) – featuring Joe Morse of Citizens Energy Task Force (CETF)
On MPR today I heard that economic growth projections for MN have been dropped by more than half: “When Dayton and the Legislature crafted their budget agreement, they based their numbers on a forecast that projected economic growth of 3.2 percent this year. It turns out that projection was too ambitious. Stinson said national forecasting firms now predict state growth of 1.5 percent — less than half of initial projections.†Growth and electrical demand go hand in hand. Tim Carlsgaard for the Cap X utility transmission corridor expansion initiative, explains that ‘just like highways’ you have to widen them “at some point”. But what is this point? Is this ‘business as usual’ assumption out of touch with economic realities? And how do do we target investments toward a future who’s need may be radically different than the past? Perhaps the persistent limits of economic growth projections are an indicator that we need to stop and examine our cost-benefit calibrations and assumptions — before we commit increasingly limited ratepayers resources and utility investment capital to another 50 years of “more of the same”.
Indeed why do the powerlines have to built so high? O Bama is as concerned about jobs s the power this provides. Underground lines would create more jobs and less damage to property values and the environment. that could be a win win .
There is a saying that applies to what is happening now. Big government is doing what they think is best for the country. The saying is “railroaded”. In the 1800’s the government backed the construction of raillines all over the country. Private citizens were forced off their land at gun point and even killed in some instances. The railroad barons became rich beyond even their dreams. Most of those lines have since been abandened. Times change and te need for them disappeared. Times change people never seem to. Railroaded!!!
It might be helpful to keep in mind these are transmission lines not new generation facilities. What does this imply? I’d suggest that the current generation facilities are vastly in excess of what is needed in their local areas and power companies are trying to find ways to sell their excess power capability. Power companies make money by selling power. They can not be expected to be in favor of decreasing use for this decreases their profits. We need to emphasize the importance of new rules enabling power companies to make reasonable profits when demand goes down or doesn’t rise.
Obama’s announcement is politically motivated. He’s running scared for reelection. A speeded up process doesn’t have to mean a poor process and he can only effect federal approval, not local approval. However turning the discussion to one of making “jobs” is a disaster.