{"id":291,"date":"2014-02-10T21:20:20","date_gmt":"2014-02-10T21:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/not-so-great-northern-transmission-line.org\/?p=291"},"modified":"2014-05-21T18:12:30","modified_gmt":"2014-05-21T18:12:30","slug":"so-what-is-xcel-et-al-up-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/not-so-great-northern-transmission-line.org\/?p=291","title":{"rendered":"So what is Xcel, et al., up to?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the “Regional Utilities” submit Comments like this, and reiterate that they plan to intervene and propose a different corridor as a “system alternative,” just what are they up to?\u00a0 As I posted yesterday, I asked about intervention and got nothing, no idea when they’ll file, and really, no idea IF they’ll file.\u00a0 Could be just a threat…<\/p>\n

Threat of what, well, a threat of claiming an interest in this proposed line — that’s all that makes any sense:<\/p>\n

Regional Utilities_Comments_201311-93834-01<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"snippet1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Assist the Commission?\u00a0 We know how they “assisted” ATC on the Badger Coulee line, claiming 1\/2 ownership:<\/p>\n

FERC Complaint – Ownership of Badger Coulee<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And Xcel won that one, after which ATC tried to claim 1\/2 of CapX Hampton-La Crosse and lost…<\/p>\n

Commission Order – Xcel 1\/2 Owner!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Snippet2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Are we in for a repeat?\u00a0 Hey, it worked for them once, why not again!\u00a0 When the “Regional Utilities,” Xcel, et al., want to “help the Commission” how could it be anything but good for the “Regional Utilities” a\/k\/a Xcel Energy?\u00a0 So how are they focused on helping themselves, errrrrrrr, “helping the Commission,” yeah, that’s it… and to what?\u00a0 Seems it’s pretty limited, they’re either helping themselves to new for-profit transmission and marketing ability for export generation running from Manitoba Hydro’s Dorsey substation into their CapX 2020 transmission line at Barnesville… or do they want to help themselves by threatening a reroute and then “settle” for an ownership piece of the Minnesota Power line as proposed, like their 50\/50 split with ATC on Badger Coulee?\u00a0 And are there other options?\u00a0 Well, “Regional Utilities,” we’re depending on you to let us know!<\/p>\n

Xcel, et al., have not yet intervened, so we don’t know what they’re doing, other than to proposed this other route, as a “system alternative,” which is bizarre.\u00a0 It’s at least a threat, but where are they headed?\u00a0 That’s between Minnesota Power and Xcel, et al., but it makes me a little squeamish thinking of the possibility of such a major reroute with inadequate notice, particularly one that MISO has not put to the head of its class in the MTEP.\u00a0 Not to mention that Xcel should know better than to throw its weight around like that, not a good way to make friends and influence people.<\/p>\n

Once more with feeling, here’s what their “system alternative” looks like on a map, their map:<\/p>\n

\"Dorsey_CapX_System_Alternative\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Take a good look at this map, and compare with the most recent MP proposed corridor, focused on the northern options and eliminating the one dropping south and running around Red Lake:<\/p>\n

\"RouteCorridors\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Think about good things… think about the bad things….<\/p>\n

 
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