Key Transmission Challenges in the Midwest

Who's a key transmission challenge in the Midwest?

You're a key transmission challenge in the Midwest!  The biggest "challenge" to building transmission in the Midwest is the people who are expected to sacrifice their businesses, their homes, their retirement, for benefit of the illusive "communities that have a strong demand for renewable power."

Electric Utility Consultants, Inc. (EUCI) is having another "educational" shindig to discuss you "challenges," and once again, you're not invited.

On November 9 and 10, EUCI will be gathering its fattened cows to the trough in Indianapolis to be "educated" about the following:

Transmission as a Market Enabler:  Today's "conservative" approach to transmission planning exposes customers and other market participants to greater risks and costs because by understating the benefits of and risks addressed by transmission, valuable investments in transmission facilities are either not made or delayed.

This session will address a study paid for by WIRES, "The Voice of The Electric Transmission Industry."  WIRES is made up of corporations who stand to profit from building new transmission.  Apparently we're not planning enough transmission for their balance sheets.  Awwww.....

But then there's this:

State Regulatory Viewpoint on Transmission Developments in the Region

State Regulators will share their perspectives on:
Balancing priorities
The role of stakeholder involvement
How different states are looking at the challenges involved to collaborate with other states
The benefits and challenges that competition for regionally cost-shared transmission projects creates for the PUCs and the ratepayer.

Adam McKinnie, Chief Utility Economist, Missouri Public Service Commission

Did anyone tell EUCI that the Missouri Public Service Commission recently denied Clean Line's Grain Belt Express application for a 700-mile transmission line through the state?  Fun times!  I hope they're planning to create some space between that guy and...

KURT ALERT!  Amy Kurt, Clean Line Energy Manager for the development of the Grain Belt Express Clean Line, will be "educating" participants about "The Challenges of Renewable Energy Integration," including the sub-topic "Maintaining grid security and reliability while integrating increased penetrations of renewable energy."  I wonder when Amy got her engineering degree that qualifies her to expound on grid security?  Maybe she's been doing it online, in secret?  Or maybe Hans Detweiler taught her how to be an "engineer?"  At any rate don't let Amy sit with Adam at lunch!  "A" is for awkward!

Participants will learn about "Embracing New Communication Technologies."  Good to see that Amy isn't teaching this one, because her communication skills haven't been working too well on the people of Missouri.  Did I mention that the MO PSC denied the Grain Belt Express application Amy "managed" because its benefits didn't outweigh the harm to Missouri citizens? 

So, what "new technologies" will be embraced?

Communicating with the public is a critical element to successfully building new transmission line projects. Strategic communication requires teams to go beyond traditional outreach tools by embracing new techniques including zip-code targeted social media ads (Facebook and Twitter), electronic communication, videos, online comment collection, and Story Maps. For the busy public, an online open house provides access to open house materials, information videos, interactive maps, and input opportunities. With tight project budgets, it's time to embrace new tactics to communicate and stretch dollars and gain the input necessary to identify smart routes and communicate with all stakeholders throughout the project construction process.

What?  No unit on using change.org to send supportive (but off-topic) comments from your Mommy and Little Sis into a regulatory process?  Well, maybe there's a role for Amy after all!

Unfortunately, the "busy public" interested in transmission isn't interested in a corporate-slanted version of web "facts."  The "busy public" gets its facts from equally busy "public" opposition groups... live and in person, via email, via social media, etc.  Hot time in the ol' tool shed tonight!  Nobody trusts the corporation to be honest, with good reason.

Don't miss Amy discussing:

Illinois is home to two of Clean Line's projects, the Rock Island Clean Line and the Grain Belt Express Clean Line. The Rock Island Clean Line received its regulatory approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in November of 2014. The Grain Belt Express Clean Line filed its application with the ICC this April. This presentation will provide an overview of Clean Line's approach to developing multi-state, direct current, transmission lines to deliver renewable energy to market.

Be sure to bring your own copy of the "Motion for Leave to File Complaint for Order of Prohibition" pending before the Illinois Supreme Court so you can follow along.

Sounds like a real party, doesn't it?  Unfortunately, it's going to cost you $1195, plus travel and expenses, to get inside.  But who needs to get inside to be a "challenge?"