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Power line gets key decision
Published 12:00 p.m., April 20, 2009
In response to growing energy demands throughout the region, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has approved a Certificate of Need for the CapX2020 project, which recognizes the demand for three 345-kilovolt electric transmission lines, two of which Otter Tail Power Company is involved with.
Of the three lines approved Friday, Otter Tail Power Company is participating in a 250-mile, 345-kilovolt line, which runs from Fargo, N.D. through Alexandria, St. Cloud and Monticello. It is also involved in a 240-mile, 345-kilovat line between Brookings County, S.D., Hampton, Minn., Marshall and Granite Falls, Minn.
Otter Tail Power will eventually be involved in a fourth line between Bemidji and Grand Rapids, which is expected to be granted a Certificate of Need through the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in 2010. Otter Tail Power would be the lead developer in that particular project.
The recent decision does not mean construction of the lines will begin immediately. Instead, it recognizes the need for the lines and lays out a plan for the future. The lines’ routes are currently being worked out, with route permit applications in the midst of state review. If all goes according to plans, such permits are expected to be granted in 2010.
Otter Tail Power Company Public Relations Director Cris Kling said the lines are needed to maintain function in order to meet customers’ energy demands expected in the near future.
Plans for the project began in 2004 after engineers’ evaluations found that, in order to meet growing energy needs, such lines would have to be erected. Once it was determined there was a need, a thorough study on the project was completed to ensure the construction of lines would be beneficial to investors and customers. The formal CapX2020 project was created in 2005 from such studies. The project calls for a total of 700 miles of electric lines throughout the state — the largest electric line project within the past 30 years.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by eaglesdare (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Old school methodology of "central station" manufacturing power and shipping it long distances is not a win for America. Only for transmission firms and the utilities charging consumers lots for the radical build outs. In turn, private investment capitol and Wall Street would boom while while we are still hooked generally to coal and whatever else is in the queue. Big transmission would slow the real national transition of real wind & solar everywhere. Enormous wind and solar "farms" although seemingly stunning at first are often limited by the clear and obvious continuation of filthy coal. It's coal behind a mask of wind and solar. The power industry in many places using "green" as the excuse needed for huge upgrades claiming need when the most recent SEC K-10 information shows that companies like Xcel and others have shown an 11 percent drop in electric demand this past year. The past three years showing a stunning clear drop in demand. Surprised? True - America is in fact using less power. As the power industry paradigm rapidly changes utilities will find themselves loosing control as local communities attracting local investment will quickly find strong supplies of wind and solar (or whatever they have in their region) using smaller "smart grids" which are far better. The thought of terrorism is gone if a number of smaller cities linked inter-regionally. It's less costly to build and maintain, will provide far more long term local jobs, and give people within their own region a stake in the pie
Posted by eaglesdare (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another superb piece out today from David Morris - worth review
ttp://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=43589597
Posted by eaglesdare (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One outfit we have been researching is ILSR.org, for example, who shows a study or two (Energy Self Reliant States or Minnesota Meeting the Renewable Energy Requirement- http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2...) indicating clearly that more than half of the states in the US could begin this journey quickly. Given the masses of stimulus that may soon come forward and rate payer increases that we would all bare the burden of for "ultra high voltage" transmission which proves terrible line loss is looking less and less attractive. The alternative - local renewable being dispersed locally and shared regionally would in time prove great dividends. The utilities aren't exactly advertising it as would put us all in charge of our energy future. Not huge wins for the profiteers alone. Benefit-cost analysis you ask? Depends on your perspective and how much harm we are comfortable nailing to whom perhaps should be the question?
Other than the giant CAPX 2020 in Minnesota and Wisconsin, there is another coming their way called "ITC's Green Power Express" both of which may run side by side as dual circuit 345 Kv power lines. 765kV in otherwords; but twice. Amazing, as the folks running the NY & New England ISO (or grid systems) have already suggested they may not want such power from the Midwest ISO. See more at www.cetf.us - Citizens Energy Task Force. Oh, and call your state & federal!
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