Community Power

Born out of the 2013 Minneapolis Energy Options campaign, dedicated to empowering MN cities and towns to create clean, local, affordable, reliable energy.

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

At the Sabathani hearing on Xcel Energy's 15 year "preferred plan." Multiple speakers speak in opposition to Xcel's rising costs, nuclear power plant extensions, trash burners, and slow pace / blocking solar, slow-walking demand response & efficiency.

[CUB Minnesota @CUB_MN]

""Xcel's failure to manage its contractors fell far below what is expected of a reasonable and prudent nuclear plant operator," read a regulatory filing Assistant Attorney General Peter Scholtz signed." via @StarTribune

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

"If Xcel is not ready to move quickly on Minnesota's priorities, perhaps it is time to transition to a publicly-owned utility" - speaker at Sabathani public hearing on Xcel's 15 year energy plan. @SahanJournal @MPRnews @StribBiz

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

🧐🧐🧐Shared from folks in Indiana who have Centerpoint Energy...

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

In case you missed it. Xcel is taking and creating heat, joining its utility peers in California & Hawaii: "More than 150 insurance companies sue Xcel, citing negligence over start of Marshall fire [Colorado’s costliest and most destructive fire]" https://t.co/IoH1DNkvMY

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

@johnffarrell @walkerorenstein here's a good thread for more information on the MNPUC decision today.

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

@walkerorenstein

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

@walkerorenstein @walkerorenstein The headline sounds like the Xcel lobbyist version. In fact, this outcome leaves in tact the (~equal) COST to ratepayers of Xcel's solar while devaluing (retroactively) local solar. This isn't about "least cost" it is about "undermining threats to competition"

[John Farrell ☀️🌬🔋 @johnffarrell]

The proposal is one of many moves by the utility to curtail competition from non-utility energy producers, from an initial proposal to cap the program at 20 megawatts per year to slowing interconnection.

[John Farrell ☀️🌬🔋 @johnffarrell]

It will also have a significant financial impact on many public entities, as covered by @walkerorenstein - https://t.co/HwFty4YDdd

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

When you're not the one who will get blow back - you can #SayAnything. Xcel Energy won't get blowback from today's decision b/c it just suggested a thing. The State of MN approved it as legal. Colleagues don't let colleagues breach contracts.

Xcel #ResponsibleWhenRequired.

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

Distressingly, we must adjust the third piece of this story from what we hoped would be a clear-eyed view of what was going on today from the Commission. See edits below. It went something like this:
#MNPUC

[John Farrell ☀️🌬🔋 @johnffarrell]

When using the value of solar price as the comparative, the program cost Xcel has widely shared is inflated nearly 7 times more than the actual difference between the community solar compensation rate and the value of solar.

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

Commissioners and policymakers should practice using more "I statements" for example:
"I find this argument unpersuasive." <--that simply means that it's personally not making sense to you. Not that it doesn't make sense in fact and evidence. Those are two very different. #MNPUC

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

Commissioner describes Xcel's 20% rate increase as akin to the community solar program costs...
#MNPUC

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

Who is watching this MPUC meeting? Commissioner describes a participant behavior as "offensive." Meanwhile multiple participants being treated with scorn, interruptions, and harsh tones. Favoritism and deference on display.

https://t.co/IJjOL9t823

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

The folks who defended Xcel's new acquisition of an overpriced gas plant in are now a star witness in defending Xcel claw back of commitments, savings, and solar energy credits from MN households #MNPUC

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

"So why DO people show up w/ signs? Why do people use humor & social media & marches & direct actions?" ...lobbyists who are welcomed into decision-making spaces ask

Because they are not allowed to speak, attend, or be taken seriously or offered the deference the lobbyists are.

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

PUC asking OAG and Fresh Energy about detailed solar contracts or history without asking folks in the room who actually know the details....

[Community Power @MplsEnergyOpts]

Commissioner (in jest): "I know we sometimes think we're smarter than the people here before us"

..........