Xcel executives James Alders and Rick Evans generously spent over three hours Wednesday to tour and answer citizens’ questions about Xcel’s relationship with T. Boone Pickens’ AWA Goodhue wind project. The Coalition for Sensible Siting is curious about Xcel's contract to purchase the power generated (PPA) by the proposed industrial wind project.
Xcel’s James Alders confirmed Xcel's belief that AWA Goodhue must re-establish its Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) eligibility before the project can begin construction. Minnesota State Representative Steve Drazkowski stated that he and Representative Tim Kelly, along with State Senator John Howe, have asked the State Auditor’s Office to examine the AWA Goodhue project’s C-BED status. Xcel’s PPA with AWA Goodhue has a very high (possibly the highest) electrical rate compared with other contracts for purchasing wind energy in Minnesota. Lack of transparency under Minnesota law does not allow citizens footing the bill to know exactly how high the rate is.
Citizen Kristi Rosenquist asked whether wind energy rates to consumers would be “cost competitive” with other sources of electricity without large federal tax cash flowing directly to wind companies. Mr. Alders responded, “I doubt it”. The misleading and frequently repeated statement by wind energy lobbyists about wind being “cost competitive” relies on a false pretext: that the federal section 1603 cash grants (and other government supports) and the electrical rate money are not coming from the same tax payers and rate payers. If a pick-pocket takes money by picking one pocket more slowly while picking the other pocket more quickly, this does not result in less money being extracted. Apparently, when industrial wind promoters say “wind is cost competitive”, reality depends upon what the meaning of the word “is” is.
Bill Glahn attended the Xcel meeting at the Belle Creek Township Hall and provided this blog on what he saw.
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Xcel’s James Alders confirmed Xcel's belief that AWA Goodhue must re-establish its Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) eligibility before the project can begin construction. Minnesota State Representative Steve Drazkowski stated that he and Representative Tim Kelly, along with State Senator John Howe, have asked the State Auditor’s Office to examine the AWA Goodhue project’s C-BED status. Xcel’s PPA with AWA Goodhue has a very high (possibly the highest) electrical rate compared with other contracts for purchasing wind energy in Minnesota. Lack of transparency under Minnesota law does not allow citizens footing the bill to know exactly how high the rate is.
Citizen Kristi Rosenquist asked whether wind energy rates to consumers would be “cost competitive” with other sources of electricity without large federal tax cash flowing directly to wind companies. Mr. Alders responded, “I doubt it”. The misleading and frequently repeated statement by wind energy lobbyists about wind being “cost competitive” relies on a false pretext: that the federal section 1603 cash grants (and other government supports) and the electrical rate money are not coming from the same tax payers and rate payers. If a pick-pocket takes money by picking one pocket more slowly while picking the other pocket more quickly, this does not result in less money being extracted. Apparently, when industrial wind promoters say “wind is cost competitive”, reality depends upon what the meaning of the word “is” is.
Bill Glahn attended the Xcel meeting at the Belle Creek Township Hall and provided this blog on what he saw.
