The Hannibal Bureau of Public Works "stepped back" from Clean Line this week. Can we get a Hallelujah, brothers and sisters?
The Herald-Whig reports:
The Herald-Whig reports:
The Hannibal Board of Public Works has suspended talks with Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners about investing in or using its proposed Grain Belt Express transmission line to bring wind-generated electricity to the city.
BPW General Manager Bob Stevenson told the utility's board of directors Tuesday that the BPW has decided to step back and observe developments between the company and other municipalities before moving forward.
"We just decided to sit back, take it easy for a while, and just study what's going, keep asking questions, keep researching," Stevenson said. "We've got nothing to put forward. There is no pending contract."
Good idea, that research thing. Clean Line's claims to the BPW haven't quite added up. Although, I do think other municipalities should observe developments between Hannibal and Clean Line before moving forward themselves, instead of the other way around. Looks like when push came to shove, there was no contract. Why couldn't Clean Line put its offered prices in writing?
In other news:
BPW board members also accepted an average $36.86 per megawatt-hour bid from Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources for energy to be used in summer 2017, 2018 and 2019. Four bidders, including NextEra, submitted quotes for supplying 20 megawatts in June, 25 megawatts in July and 25 megawatts in August each year.
Stevenson said those energy blocks, which make up about one-twelfth of the BPW's demand, will cover peaks during hot summer days. He said the BPW and Chris Dawson, a representative from consulting firm GDS Associates, had discussed locking down prices now while they remain low.
Well, lookie there, that's how energy contracts are supposed to be evaluated and signed. Because, "an agreement that would commit the utility to do nothing except be a good witness in front of the Missouri Public Service Commission and be willing to work toward a final arrangement" isn't a bid, an expert evaluation of bids, or a contract. It's nonsense, and it's selling Hannibal short.
The Public Service Commission denied Clean Line a certificate of convenience and necessity in July on grounds that the 4,000-megawatt, direct-current line would not benefit the state's consumers and landowners. Clean Line has since approached municipal utilities, including the BPW, about participating in the project in hopes of showing regulators it has a customer base in Missouri.
Stevenson said the BPW has no deadline for making decisions related to the project despite Clean Line's goal of appearing before the commission again this year.
"Without us, they've got nothing," he said. "Just because they're in a hurry doesn't mean we have to be."
Ahh, so maybe Bob has realized that Hannibal shouldn't be such a cheap date. Hannibal has something Clean Line desperately wants, and they shouldn't give it away cheaply.
As well, the Missouri PSC and its experts thoroughly vetted Grain Belt Express before making its determination that the project did not benefit consumers last summer. Hannibal should consider that carefully before making inexpert, snap judgements of its own on the merits of the project. And so should any other municipalities being courted to "be a good witness" for Clean Line, before signing up.
If the project has merit, it will swim, not sink, on its own before the PSC. And nobody needs another Prairie State. Good job, Hannibal BPW!
Clean Line goes home with a big, fat goose egg, as my friend Dave in Arkansas opined. But something wonderful happened in Hannibal nonetheless. The Hannibal Ratepayers for Smart Energy grassroots group has formed, and will hopefully continue their efforts to become involved in Hannibal's energy choices going forward. Public participation is always a good thing!
As well, the Missouri PSC and its experts thoroughly vetted Grain Belt Express before making its determination that the project did not benefit consumers last summer. Hannibal should consider that carefully before making inexpert, snap judgements of its own on the merits of the project. And so should any other municipalities being courted to "be a good witness" for Clean Line, before signing up.
If the project has merit, it will swim, not sink, on its own before the PSC. And nobody needs another Prairie State. Good job, Hannibal BPW!
Clean Line goes home with a big, fat goose egg, as my friend Dave in Arkansas opined. But something wonderful happened in Hannibal nonetheless. The Hannibal Ratepayers for Smart Energy grassroots group has formed, and will hopefully continue their efforts to become involved in Hannibal's energy choices going forward. Public participation is always a good thing!
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