Public Information & Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Meeting Huntley to Wilmarth Transmission Line Docket CN ‐ 17 ‐ 184/TL ‐ 17 ‐ 185 | https://mn.gov/puc
Huntley to Wilmarth Transmission Line ‐ Agenda 1. Overview of Meeting and Permit Process Minnesota Public Utilities Commission 2. Project Information Xcel Energy & ITC Midwest LLC 3. Environmental Review Process Department of Commerce ‐ Energy Environmental Review and Analysis 4. Citizen Comments and Questions 4/11/2018 Commission Docket CN ‐ 17 ‐ 184/TL ‐ 17 ‐ 185 | https://mn.gov/puc 2
Huntley to Wilmarth Transmission Line – The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Our Role • The Commission regulates investor ‐ owned utilities to ensure Minnesotans are charged reasonable rates for power. • The Commission ensures there is enough power generated to keep our lights on and our homes warm. • The Commission permits energy generation facilities and transmission lines for construction. Permitting • Commission staff review evidence, build a record of public information, analyze the information to verify it meets statutory requirements, and make recommendations to the 5 Commissioners who have final say about a given permit decision. • The Commissioners, after conducting a public process including a public hearing, make the final decision about a project, which carries the weight of law. 4/11/2018 Commission Docket CN ‐ 17 ‐ 184/TL ‐ 17 ‐ 185 | https://mn.gov/puc 3
Huntley to Wilmarth Transmission Line – Permit Process Scope of Application Filed & Draft EIS developed Environmental Public Information & Accepted as and issued by DOC Impact Statement Environmental Complete (EIS) Scoping Meeting Advisory Taskforce Report from the Public Meeting and Contested Case Final EIS Developed Administrative Law Comment Period on Hearing Closed and Issued by DOC Judge Draft EIS Contested Case Hearing Decision by the before an Administrative Public Utilities Law Judge Commission 4/11/2018 Commission Docket CN ‐ 17 ‐ 184/TL ‐ 17 ‐ 185 | https://mn.gov/puc 4
Huntley to Wilmarth Transmission Line – Certificate of Need Decision Factors In making a certificate of need decision, the Commission considers factors listed in statute. • Generally, factors include: • Relationship of the proposed line to regional energy needs; • Evaluation of possible alternatives for satisfying transmission needs; • Benefits of enhanced reliability, access, or deliverability and the extent these factors increase the robustness of the transmission system or lower costs to Minnesotans and the region. Minn. Stat. 216B.243, Subd. 3 4/11/2018 Commission Docket CN ‐ 17 ‐ 184/TL ‐ 17 ‐ 185 | https://mn.gov/puc 5
Huntley to Wilmarth Transmission Line – Route Permit Decision Factors In making a routing decision, the Commission considers factors listed in statute. • The Commission’s determinations are guided by the goal of conserving resources, minimizing environmental impacts, minimizing human settlement and other land use conflicts, and ensuring the state's electric energy security through efficient, cost ‐ effective power supply and electric transmission infrastructure. • Generally, the statutory considerations include: • Effects on land, water, and air resources; • Public health and welfare; • Vegetation, animals, materials, aesthetic values, future expansion, economic impact, and, irretrievable commitment of resources. Minn. Stat. 216E.03, Subd. 7 4/11/2018 Commission Docket CN ‐ 17 ‐ 184/TL ‐ 17 ‐ 185 | https://mn.gov/puc 6
Huntley to Wilmarth Transmission Line – Project Timeline Action Approx. Date Certificate of Need and Route Permit Applications January 2018 Filed Application Accepted March 2018 Public Info. and EIS Scoping Meeting April 2018 Scope of EIS Determined June 2018 Draft EIS Developed and Issued October 2018 Public Meeting on Draft EIS November/December 2018 Hearing before ALJ / Public Hearing Q1 2019 Final EIS Issued Q1 2019 Report from the ALJ Q2 2019 Final Decision from PUC Q2 2019 4/11/2018 Commission Docket CN ‐ 17 ‐ 184/TL ‐ 17 ‐ 185 | https://mn.gov/puc 7
Huntley to Wilmarth Transmission Line – How to stay informed • Department of Commerce Website: http://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities • Full Case Record : See all documents filed in these dockets via the Commission’s website – http://mn.gov/puc, select Search eDockets , enter the year ( 17 ) and the docket number ( 184 or 185 ), and select Search . • Project Mailing List: Sign up to receive notices about project milestones and opportunities to participate (meetings, comment periods, etc.). Contact docketing.puc@state.mn.us, 651 ‐ 201 ‐ 2204, with the docket numbers ( 17 ‐ 184 or 17 ‐ 185 ), your name, mailing address, and email address. • Subscribe to the Dockets: To receive email notifications when new documents are filed in the project dockets, go to the Commission’s website, mn.gov/puc, select Subscribe, and follow the prompts. *Note ‐ subscribing may result in a large number of emails. 4/11/2018 Commission Docket CN ‐ 17 ‐ 184/TL ‐ 17 ‐ 185 | https://mn.gov/puc 8
Thank You! Public Advisor Charley Bruce, publicadvisor.puc@state.mn.us, 651 ‐ 201 ‐ 2251 or 1 ‐ 800 ‐ 657 ‐ 3782 Staff Analyst Tricia DeBleeckere, tricia.debleeckere@state.mn.us, 651 ‐ 201 ‐ 2254 4/11/2018 Commission Docket CN ‐ 17 ‐ 184/TL ‐ 17 ‐ 185 | https://mn.gov/puc 9
Huntley to Wilmarth Proposed 345 Kilovolt Transmission Line April, 2018
MISO Identified Project • Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) - Regionally manages portions of North America’s electric grid - Dispatches most economical source of electricity if transfer capability allows - Future scenarios requires additional transmission to deliver low cost energy The project is needed to relieve congestion on the transmission grid in southern Minnesota that is inhibiting low ‐ cost electricity from generation facilities in the area, including wind farms, from reaching customers. Blue area is MISO territory
Xcel / ITC Route Identification Process Data driven approach • Routing criteria data (GIS mapping) • Field Work • Favor existing infrastructure corridors • Stakeholder focus (agencies, government and public) – Gather data – Consult with stakeholders – Generate route options – Public meetings (spring/summer 2017) – Refine route options (Fall 2017)
345kV Structure Examples 150 foot easement required
Ray Kirsch, Environmental Review Manager Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us Phone: 651 ‐ 539 ‐ 1841 Toll Free: 1 ‐ 800 ‐ 657 ‐ 3794
Environmental Review Department of Commerce Will Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Huntley to Wilmarth Project Objective Analysis of the Project o • Discuss and Analyze Potential Impacts • Identify Strategies to Avoid and Mitigate Impacts • Does not Advocate – Just the Facts • Goal = Informed Decision Making
Environmental Review What Should the Environmental Impact Statement Include? The Environmental Impact Statement Will Address: o • Certificate of Need Route Permit • Scoping = Public Input on the “Table of Contents” o • What Do We Need to Know to Make Informed Decisions • Input from Citizens, Local Governments, and Agencies
Environmental Review Scope of the Environmental Impact Statement Human and Environmental Impacts o Strategies to Mitigate Impacts o Alternatives to the Proposed Project that Could o Mitigate Impacts Size, Type, Timing • Alternatives to the Proposed Routes that Could o Mitigate Impacts
Environmental Review Alternative Routes Must: Mitigate a Specific Impact(s) o • Aesthetic Impact • Land Use Impact • Natural Resource Impact • Other Be Specific and Identifiable o Meet the Stated Need for the o Project
Comments Comments on the Scope of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Verbal Comments at Today’s Meeting o Complete and Submit a Comment Sheet o Comment On ‐ Line: http://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities o Mail, Fax, or Email a Comment: o Ray Kirsch Minnesota Department of Commerce 85 7 th Place East, Suite 280 St. Paul, MN 55101 ‐ 2198 fax: 651 ‐ 539 ‐ 0109 raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us Comment Period Ends: May 18 , 2018 o
Comments Commenting Etiquette One Speaker at a Time o Please State and Spell Your Name for the Court o Reporter Please Limit Comments to a Few Minutes o Maintain Respect for Others o Direct Your Comments / Questions to the Scope of o the EIS
Comments Scope of the Environmental Impact Statement “Table of Contents” o • What Do We Need to Know In Order to Make Informed Decisions? Human and Environmental Impacts o Strategies to Mitigate Impacts o • Alternatives to the Proposed Project • Alternatives to the Proposed Routes
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