Grain Belt Express is complaining again. Last week it filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission against MISO, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator. This makes the second complaint Invenergy filed against MISO regarding GBE. The first complaint GBE filed is still languishing more than a year later. This one will probably suffer a worse fate.
The problem is that MISO recently notified GBE that it was changing the date for connecting GBE to the MISO transmission system from December 1, 2027 to December 1, 2030 based on MISO's determination that some of the Network Upgrades that are required by MISO for Grain Belt's interconnection may not be ready by 2027. GBE says it will have its project built in 2028 and wants MISO to allow it to connect some smaller portion of its capacity that does not rely on the Network Upgrades at that time.
MISO's rules do not allow for this kind of "limited operation," therefore MISO cannot grant it without changing its rules. In order to change its rules, MISO must complete its stakeholder process, which can take years to talk about the rule changes, vote on the rule changes, get the rule changes approved by FERC, before they can become effective. That's probably going to take longer than 2030 because MISO has a lot on its plate.
GBE tries to tell FERC that other system operators permit limited operation, therefore MISO should, too. Too bad GBE never raised this issue and asked for this rule when the rules for merchant transmission were being made. It is what it is... GBE cannot connect to MISO until 2030. That's 7 years from now.
But what about those "Network Upgrades" that got delayed and required pushing GBE's interconnection out until 2030? What are those upgrades? According to GBE's complaint:
The problem is that MISO recently notified GBE that it was changing the date for connecting GBE to the MISO transmission system from December 1, 2027 to December 1, 2030 based on MISO's determination that some of the Network Upgrades that are required by MISO for Grain Belt's interconnection may not be ready by 2027. GBE says it will have its project built in 2028 and wants MISO to allow it to connect some smaller portion of its capacity that does not rely on the Network Upgrades at that time.
MISO's rules do not allow for this kind of "limited operation," therefore MISO cannot grant it without changing its rules. In order to change its rules, MISO must complete its stakeholder process, which can take years to talk about the rule changes, vote on the rule changes, get the rule changes approved by FERC, before they can become effective. That's probably going to take longer than 2030 because MISO has a lot on its plate.
GBE tries to tell FERC that other system operators permit limited operation, therefore MISO should, too. Too bad GBE never raised this issue and asked for this rule when the rules for merchant transmission were being made. It is what it is... GBE cannot connect to MISO until 2030. That's 7 years from now.
But what about those "Network Upgrades" that got delayed and required pushing GBE's interconnection out until 2030? What are those upgrades? According to GBE's complaint:
The Ameren upgrades involve two new 345 kV Montgomery-Burns transmission lines for which GBX will pay $126.5 million. The total cost of all upgrades that GBX is funding under the TCA is $217 million. In addition to permitting the two new Ameren transmission lines, Ameren mentioned some concerns about scheduling outages in connection with these lines and coordinating with AECI, which is an Affected System.
Well, what do you know... two MORE 345kV transmission lines caused by GBE and that GBE needs to have built in order to connect its project. First there was the GBE itself, then there was the 40-mile Tiger connector and now TWO 345kV lines connecting the new Burns substation in Callaway County to the existing Montgomery substation to the east. Where is the Montgomery substation?
These 2 new 345kV transmission lines are the financial responsibility of GBE, but will be built by Ameren in its service territory. Therefore, Ameren has to get them permitted by the PSC. More landowners are going to be affected with new transmission only made necessary because of GBE. But will these new landowners be entitled to 150% of fair market value? What problems are going to crop up during permitting of these new lines? Is it going to take them as long to get permitted as all the other GBE lines? No wonder the connection date has been pushed out until 2030.
Grain Belt Express -- spreading the misery to thousands of landowners across Missouri for at least 20 years. Will GBE even be relevant by then?
Grain Belt Express -- spreading the misery to thousands of landowners across Missouri for at least 20 years. Will GBE even be relevant by then?
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