Is the application complete? The Public Utilities Commission will consider whether it is complete at its meeting on December 19, and remember, you can catch the meeting online. The webcast link is on the meeting agenda, and they’re changing around the website so I don’t have a link now to post (and you might need an app to view).
Here are the Comments filed thus far. The comment deadline has passed, but Minnesota Power made a statement that I just couldn’t ignore!
Public Comments 201311-93786-01
Public Comments 201311-93612-01
Public Comments 201311-93253-01
Commerce DER Comments – 201311-93825-01
Commerce DER_Comments_ Nov21_201311-93930-01
The “Regional Utilities” Comment was interesting in that they’re saying that the Fargo CapX 2020 transmission line could do the job. Granted the project is for export, which is the purpose of CapX 2020 too, but this one was designed to get over to Michigan. What I like about it is that they’re showing that it is all about export, and I’d love to see them get into a pissing match about it.
And Minnesota Power had this to say:
And this part was more than a little odd:
Subject to Commission approval of the Certificate of Need for the GNTL Project, all of this upfront work will enable a June 1, 2020 in-service date as required under the PPA. At most it appears that the Regional Utilities have conducted additional transmission studies around the Concept. The Regional Utilities’ vague reference to these additional studies may be an attempt to position them for an intervention under Minn. Rules 7829.0800. However, at this time, the Regional Utilities do not appear to have a unique interest in the Project – a fully participant funded transmission line – particularly considering that the Department will represent the
interests of Minnesota ratepayers and the public.
As major transmission owners, suggesting an essentially competing transmission project as an alternative, yup, they’ve sure got an interest, and a unique one at that.
I fired off a Comment, just couldn’t let that slide:
Onward — the PUC meeting is on the 19th.