could not afford to operate, expires on December 31st, 2017. The
agreement is for the purchase of very dirty and expensive
electricity. Xcel and Hennepin County are proposing a seven year
extension to December 31, 2024. The price paid to HERC (Hennepin
County) would be reduced somewhat.
There is a docket open in this matter before the Minnesota Public
Utilities Commission, No. 17-532. You can find it, and read the
documents filed, from the PUC website, or from the link below.
Comments from the Minnesota Department of Commerce oppose the Xcel
petition, stating, among other concerns:
"... the negotiated price is far above the market value .... Xcel's
ratepayers would end up significant and unreasonable cost increases."
"... the renewable energy credits associated with HERC's facility do
not belong to Xcel. Therefore, the Department recommends that the
Commission determine that the HERC PPA is not needed by Xcel for
compliance with Minnesota's renewable energy standard."
"The Department recommends the Commission (1) take no action on the
Petition. ...."
Hennepin County says in its comments that " HERC is an important
community resource ...."
So far there are no comments from environmental or EJ interests, or
from the City of Minneapolis, opposing the continued poison-belching
from the HERC.
HERC's permit has been expired since May 14, 2003.
Note that the MPCA has in no way abandoned its perverted enthusiasm
for garbage burning and could be expected to promote extension of the PPA.
You can access materials and submit comments
here:
https://minnesotapuc.granicusideas.com/discussions/petition-for-approval-of-an-amendment-to-the-herc-ppa-m-17-532
It's best to subscribe to the docket and file comments there rather
than use the "discussion" feature. The key point, of course, is that
the PPA should be allowed to expire at the end of 2017.
Alan Muller