Let's take a look at the Grain Belt Express shenanigans that have transpired while I was on blogging break...

Perhaps the most significant thing is the way Invenergy wormed its way into a crucial energy bill in Illinois.  Illinois was facing the closure of numerous baseload nuclear generators that were no longer financially efficient to operate, but could cause reliability issues if closed.  It's never just about the issue at hand when legislation is created  to fix a particular problem, though.  Instead, all the grifters showed up to cut themselves a huge piece of the energy $$$ pie, tagging their particular want onto a piece of legislation that was needed.  Before you knew it, Illinois had created a monster energy bill, with plenty of money to be had for all the players who could afford entry to the party.  And, of course, Invenergy used the legislation as a vehicle to favor Grain Belt Express in the state.

Remember all that blather about not changing the law to impede a project that was already under development?  Well, apparently that does not apply if the changed law BENEFITS a project already under development.  Missouri was prevented from changing its laws because Invenergy didn't like the change, but Illinois was encouraged to change its laws because Invenergy liked the change.  What's the change Invenergy inserted into the Illinois energy bill?  It granted Grain Belt Express eminent domain authority to take property in nine Illinois counties.  Not only that, it also requires that the Illinois Commerce Commission make certain findings "if demonstrated in the application" and "without the taking of additional evidence."  So, now the Illinois legislature is dictating the decisions a supposedly independent regulatory body will make?  And it is removing due process for other parties who may participate in the regulatory process?  Who knows if this is even legal... I'm sure it will end up in the courts at some point.  Seems like a stretch to me.

So, GBE got what it wanted in Illinois.  I'm sure it's busy scribbling its "demonstrated" application as I write this.  Does anyone know where I can get a kangaroo to bring to the public hearings?

Meanwhile, GBE has been busy trying to be liked in Kansas and Missouri by sprinkling a little money around.  I had a dream last night that sort of went something like this:

*Insert Wayne's World dream sequence music here*
                  *Diddly-doo, diddly-doo, diddly-doo*

Wow, I need to find a sleep aid that stops such crazy dreams!  But GBE did manage to purchase a stunning array of farm critters at fairs across the region, however that decision was actually made.  Maybe Polsky can potty train a few and make them into family pets?  I'm just wondering what purpose Invenergy sees in trying to be liked.  It's not like purchasing animals at fairs will change the mind of any landowner to voluntarily sell a transmission easement.  So, what's the purpose of trying to buy favoritism with everyone else?  Invenergy must have some scheme in the works, because it is also trying to manufacture likeability by sending out pointless propaganda in the mail.

Genius?  Sort of like Positive Energy?  I'm pretty sure the only people who care about GBE have already joined their neighbors... in opposition.  What's the point, Invenergy, what's the point?  What if you threw a party and nobody came?

GBE has also been busy making political contributions in Missouri.  What's next?  Special jackets for legislators with "Invenergy" embroidered on the lapel?  Hey, maybe they can hold a legislative barbecue to dispose of all those unwanted farm animals they purchased at the fair!  Whatever....

It's apparent that GBE still doesn't have enough customers to make its project economic, or it wouldn't be trying so hard.

How would a new application in Illinois change things?  It would bleed Invenergy of even more cash trying to get GBE approved, that's for sure.

What if Invenergy stopped throwing good money after bad and re-imagined its project into something everyone didn't hate?  What if it could build a transmission line that didn't require eminent domain, and contentious siting battles?  It could if it went back to the drawing board and routed its project underground on existing rights of way.  Other developers have been smart from the start, and feel confident that the additional costs to bury will be offset by avoiding legal and regulatory battles caused by opposition, as well as avoiding costly project delays.  That business plan is a win for everyone!  Do you suppose Invenergy (and before them Clean Line) has already spent MORE trying to build above-ground transmission on new rights of way using eminent domain than it would have spent designing a better project in the first place?  It's never too late to do the right thing.

Just because I've been too busy to write doesn't mean I haven't been paying attention.  I have... and now that I've found the way out from under other projects, you get to hear all about it!  Lucky you!  (Hey, remember, reading this blog is voluntary.)

Do you want to sacrifice your reliable electric service in order to rely on power sources that have not yet been invented?  It looks like New York does.

The graph included in this article kind of took my breath away yesterday.  Here it is:

The power source at the number three slot doesn't even exist!  New York is going to provide 10% of the power it needs in 2040 using technology that does not currently exist!  "Dispatchable emmissions-free resources" is footnoted to point out that this resource is, "Not commercially available at this time, but will be critical to future grid reliability."  Is this a sensible, reliable plan?

Take note also that aside from nuclear, all of these resources are variable.  That is that they are not "dispatchable" at will.  They cannot always perform when called.  So, less than 10% of New York's future power could actually be reliably turned on when needed.

Another 7% or so of the resource is undefined "imports."  Imports of what, and from where?  If these are supposed to be imports of dispatchable resources from other states, what happens if those states also develop a plan similar to New York's that closes them down because they are  not "clean"?

New York seems pretty confident about its plan.  Maybe they plan to capture and enslave a herd of unicorns who will be forced to produce methane that can be converted into energy?  Sounds as plausible as other "not commercially available" sources these days.

Guard your unicorn!  The times, they are a'changing.