Bird lover opposes power line project in south-central Minnesota

You can find the rest of the story at the web sites of Intervenors in the Certificate of Need case who have also Petitioned to Intervene in the Brookings routing case: NO CAPX 2020 at www.nocapx2020.info and United Citizens Action Network at www.u-canmn.org There's a lot more to this than meets the eye. The PUC, in the Certificate of Need docket will determine whether it's "needed" and in Routing, it's too late to address need, it's only a matter of where it goes, and it's true, "no matter where the lines eventually are routed, some people are likely to be unhappy." That's why the Certificate of Need docket is the important one, where we have to take a firm stand: NO CAP X 2020! These lines are NOT needed, this project and others are all about opportunity, at our expense, for utilities to play the market: www.legalectric.org/weblog/2836/
The Dept. of Commerce is forming Citizens Advisory Task Forces along the route, and local governments and residents along the route can join, and review and vet the application, raise concerns about specifics of proposed routes, and submit alternative routes. Contact Ray Kirsch ray.kirsch [at] state.mn.us and Scott Ek scott.ek [at] state.mn.us to apply. Call Randy Poorker to get an application: 888-473-2279.

Sweden changes course on nuclear power (Lifts Ban)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/A...

The Swedish government agreed Thursday to scrap a three-decade ban on building new nuclear reactors, saying it needs to avoid producing more greenhouse gases.

Sweden is a leader on renewable energy but is struggling to develop alternative source like hydropower and wind to meet its growing energy demands. If parliament approves scrapping the ban, Sweden would join a growing list of countries rethinking nuclear power as a source of energy amid concerns over global warming and the reliability of energy suppliers such as Russia. Britain, France and Poland are planning new reactors and Finland is currently building Europe's first new atomic plant in over a decade.

The agreement was made possible after a compromise by the Center Party, a junior coalition member which has long held a skeptical stance toward nuclear power.

"I'm doing this for the sake of my children and grandchildren," said party leader Maud Olofsson. "I can live with the fact that nuclear power will be part of our electricity supply system in the foreseeable future."

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...

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The Union of Communist Scientists is deeply saddened.

Carol Overland wrote:

These lines are NOT needed, this project and others are all about opportunity, at our expense, for utilities to play the market

Carol, when utilities are increased and allowed to "play" the market as you so simply state the typical outcome is lower prices to consumers.

Tell the bird lover to suck it up and deal with it. Build the lines!

If it was an underground line, we would be hearing from the Mole Lover.

I think not. We're in a low priced state, and so OUR prices will be higher as utilities ship to the wholesale market in higher priced areas. That's the bogus argument they used for deregulation, thankfully Hatch stopped that in Minnesota, but other states weren't so wise and are now literally paying the price. And transmission construction cost and service cost and line loss cost is not considered in that sale price, it's just tacked on to the customer's bill. NO DEAL! "Lemmings" is right, I've been watching this lemming parade for some time now, and hoping to avoid the CapX jump off the cliff!

(aargh, haven't adjusted to this posting system, that's moi up above)
If you're along the routes proposed by Xcel, now's the time to sign up for the Citizens Advisory Task Force and weigh in. Let your local gov't officials know too, let them know why it's important to be at the table. MN Dept. of Commerce (MOES) is forming them now. Contact scott.ek@state.mn.us Don't let him tell you there are no task forces, he tried that yesterday. You may need to remind him that there is a PUC Order that there SHALL be Task Forces.