Oh, the lies these chuckleheads tell themselves...
Someone sent me their recently received issue of Clean Line Express, your direct line to Rock Island Clean Line updates.
It's a happy world of fantasy and denial at RICL! In fact, I've been wondering if we're all speaking the same language.
The Clean Line Express tells me:
An agreement was announced with a "preferred supplier" of transmission structures in Iowa.
The rest of the companies that build transmission negotiate supply contracts based on price, quality and suitability of the materials, not on how the geographic location of the factory influences the local political process. Did RICL get the best price and quality of materials? It must be pure serendipity that an Iowa company was making just what RICL needed at the right price!
The Clean Line Express tells me:
Two public hearings were held in Illinois and that "[t]he
Clean Line team listened to the diversity of perspectives
of community members and will continue to work with
the community to answer questions and address
concerns about the project. Click here for some of the
comments shared by attendees."
That's funny. I heard that the Clean Line guy was slumping down in his seat feigning sleep/boredom and playing with his iPhone before leaving the auditorium to harass high school kids and go shopping for a chore coat. No, I didn't click for "some of the comments." I have a feeling mine aren't there and I have no urge to go read some of the canned speeches Amy Kurt was handing out to her orange-clad lemmings. I can only conclude that the Clean Line Express reporter and I were at different ICC hearings last fall.
The Clean Line Express informs me that ICC decision is pending! Yes! But why wasn't there a link to briefs from Com Ed, the Farm Bureau, the Illinois Landowners' Alliance, or the ICC staff? How come my only option is to click to see some "supportive comments from environmental groups, labor unions, and wind
energy groups"? Does RICL think that if they don't mention those other briefs that the ICC will simply ignore them? Whoopsie!
RICL also thinks it participated in IUB-required landowner meetings "[a]fter more than three years
of working with stakeholders in Iowa to find the best route for the Rock Island Clean Line..." Are landowners not considered "stakeholders" or something? None of the landowners at the meeting had been aware of RICL for three years, nor were they consulted about the route before the meeting. In fact, the landowners didn't seem happy about the whole idea of RICL.
The Clean Line Express also wants you to know that wind energy prices continue to drop and market continues to grow! Except, the accompanying map graphic shows why RICL will never be competitive or economic. The price of wind in Iowa is $32/MWh, however, the cost of building RICL will add $25/MWh to the market price of wind delivered by RICL, for a total of $57/MWh, which is more than the average price of $56 for the Northeastern states. The map did not show a price for RICL's target zone of the Southeast. This proves... ???
Well, that was informative. Now I know that RICL is best viewed through special rose colored glasses. I hope its investors have some.
Someone sent me their recently received issue of Clean Line Express, your direct line to Rock Island Clean Line updates.
It's a happy world of fantasy and denial at RICL! In fact, I've been wondering if we're all speaking the same language.
The Clean Line Express tells me:
An agreement was announced with a "preferred supplier" of transmission structures in Iowa.
The rest of the companies that build transmission negotiate supply contracts based on price, quality and suitability of the materials, not on how the geographic location of the factory influences the local political process. Did RICL get the best price and quality of materials? It must be pure serendipity that an Iowa company was making just what RICL needed at the right price!
The Clean Line Express tells me:
Two public hearings were held in Illinois and that "[t]he
Clean Line team listened to the diversity of perspectives
of community members and will continue to work with
the community to answer questions and address
concerns about the project. Click here for some of the
comments shared by attendees."
That's funny. I heard that the Clean Line guy was slumping down in his seat feigning sleep/boredom and playing with his iPhone before leaving the auditorium to harass high school kids and go shopping for a chore coat. No, I didn't click for "some of the comments." I have a feeling mine aren't there and I have no urge to go read some of the canned speeches Amy Kurt was handing out to her orange-clad lemmings. I can only conclude that the Clean Line Express reporter and I were at different ICC hearings last fall.
The Clean Line Express informs me that ICC decision is pending! Yes! But why wasn't there a link to briefs from Com Ed, the Farm Bureau, the Illinois Landowners' Alliance, or the ICC staff? How come my only option is to click to see some "supportive comments from environmental groups, labor unions, and wind
energy groups"? Does RICL think that if they don't mention those other briefs that the ICC will simply ignore them? Whoopsie!
RICL also thinks it participated in IUB-required landowner meetings "[a]fter more than three years
of working with stakeholders in Iowa to find the best route for the Rock Island Clean Line..." Are landowners not considered "stakeholders" or something? None of the landowners at the meeting had been aware of RICL for three years, nor were they consulted about the route before the meeting. In fact, the landowners didn't seem happy about the whole idea of RICL.
The Clean Line Express also wants you to know that wind energy prices continue to drop and market continues to grow! Except, the accompanying map graphic shows why RICL will never be competitive or economic. The price of wind in Iowa is $32/MWh, however, the cost of building RICL will add $25/MWh to the market price of wind delivered by RICL, for a total of $57/MWh, which is more than the average price of $56 for the Northeastern states. The map did not show a price for RICL's target zone of the Southeast. This proves... ???
Well, that was informative. Now I know that RICL is best viewed through special rose colored glasses. I hope its investors have some.
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