Initial Briefs filed thus far (they’re due by 4:30).
Minnesota Power – Initial Brief_201412-105592-02
I’ve not seen one yet from “Large Power Intervenors” — where arrrrrrrre you?!?!
Monthly Archives: December 2014
Initial Briefs filed
Filed under Certificate of Need, Need, PUC Filings
12/19 – Annual Hearing – Power Plant Siting Act
It’s that time of year… the time that we get to tell the Public Utilities Commission what does and does not work about the Power Plant Siting Act. We’ve been doing it for years, 15 or so years, and have spent over a year now in a rulemaking on the PUC’s rules, Ch. 7849 (Certificate of Need) and Ch. 7850 (Power Plant & Transmission Siting) where some of these long complained of problems will be address (with any luck). And now, again, it’s time to reinforce those comments with another round of comments:
How to file comments? From the Notice:
After the hearing, now officiated by an Administrative Law Judge (new as of a few years ago), a report is issued to the PUC and then ??? It used to go to the legislature, and the EQB, and so guess I have to find out what happens now. Hopefully it’s more than just filing in the docket.
December 19, 2014 beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Public Utilities Commission
3rd Floor Large Hearing Room
121 – 7th Place East
St. Paul, MN 55101
Each of you who have experience siting and routing of large electric energy facilities — this is the time to weigh in. Remember that this is NOT project specific, it’s not about where a project goes of whether it does, but it’s about how the process works or doesn’t, so for example, it’s the time to let them know that notice isn’t being provided, or that witnesses should be sworn on oath so that testimony will be given more weight, etc. You can do it in person, and you can do it by filing comments.
Here is the Power Plant Siting Act, which governs the siting and routing of large energy facilities:
Here are some prior dockets (to access the entire docket, individual comments, etc., go to the PUC’s “SEARCH” site and plug in the docket numbers :
2006 Report to PUC – Docket 06-1733
2007 Report to PUC – Docket 07-1579
2008 Report to PUC – Docket 08-1426
2009 Report to PUC – Docket 09-1351
2010 Report to PUC – Docket 10-222
2011 Report to PUC – Docket 11-324
2012 Report – Docket 12-360 –2012 Report Exhibits
2013 Report – Docket 13-9650143-96999-01
Filed under Hearings
Write your Comments today and send to PUC!
It’s time to write your Comments about the Great Northern Transmission Line. This is in the Certificate of Need docket, so focus on whether this transmission project is needed or not, whether it’s for a private purpose or a public purpose and what that purpose is, and whether a megahuge 500 kV line is needed for the PPAs Minnesota Power claims to have lined up, i.e., 250 MW + 133 MW.
The deadline for public comments is this coming Wednesday, December 3, 2014.
Here’s the part that relates to Public Comments – please note that comments should be sent to “RouteCommentsOAH@state.mn.us” or faxed or mailed. In a recent proceeding the comments that were directly eFiled were not included, only those sent as requested were included. SO LISTEN UP!
Send your comments using this format, with docket numbers on them, by 4:30 p.m. to address as below:
Once more with feeling — send your comments, clearly, largely, referencing docket numbers PUC-E-015/CN-12-1163 and OAH 65-2500-31196, by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3, to:
RouteCommentsOAH@state.mn.us
Filed under Uncategorized