Coal Plant vs Electric City Power
So there is a lot going on with these issues.
There are the environmental pro's and con's, we have treehuggers demanding that we not pollute our air and water with emissions from a coal plant. We have industry experts, this is safe, it will not harm you!
We have warnings about eating to many locally caught fish because of existing high mercury levels in our water, and bald eagles testing positive for mercury posioning.
We have dire predictions about our source of power in the next few years.
We have a fantastic outlook for jobs building the plant, and dire predictons that they will not be filled by local workers.
We have a place to build the plant, with an alleged adequate water supply, out of town, ready to go. Except for the lawsuits over land use and zoning changes.
We have a group of people with experience owning and operating power supply and generation facilities. 5 electrical Co-op's who formed SME. Shortly after, the City of Great Falls joined. These are a couple of things I noticed on the SME website. All emphasis is mine.
"These providers of public power and related services have embarked on a course of action to ensure that their members/consumers – approximately 120,000 Montanans – will have a locally-owned and controlled supply of electric energy."
So they are including the citizens of Great Falls, as members/consumers. But we do not have a right to vote on spending the money to build it.
"The five member cooperatives serve approximately 65,000 Montanans, and the City of Great Falls has a population of 57,000."
That's where they get the 120,000. Us and them. But our City leaders are not sure, at this time, if they are going to sell to us little citizens. If they even can.
"Southern Montana Electric G&T’s HGS will meet wholesale energy needs of the five member cooperatives and the City of Great Falls. HGS will use Montana coal and Montana limestone to generate approximately 250 MW of power that will be earmarked to meet electrical energy needs of approximately 120,000 Montana energy consumers at “cost-based” rates. HGS will be wholly owned by Montana energy consumers."
Again, we have 120,000 consumers who will own this plant we do not get to vote on. And lets look at that closely. At 25% owner, the City will get 25% of the power, right? We have almost half of the people used to justify this project, why only 25%? 25% of the power is 62.5 mW. Right now, the City has contracts to sell 16-20 mW. What we gonna do with all that extra power when we ain't selling it to the 57,000 energy consumers who paid to build the plant. (That would be every Tom, Dick and Harry who pays taxes in the City I believe. Maybe a Paul and couple Joes too. And don't forget Jane.) Do we get dividend checks when the City sells that power to someone else? It's member owned, right?
"Southern Montana Electric G&T will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Services (RUS) for any project financial needs. "
Now, here is one of my problems. This is misleading. ECP is a member of SMEG&T. Right? However, ECP is not getting any money from RUS. The 5 co-ops are getting money from RUS. But we are a member of SME. But we cannot get RUS money because ECP is not a Co-op. So how are we a member of SME when we are removed at will so they can get money ECP has to go to the City for? RUS will not finance the 25% that ECP is funding. The City has, in fact, paid for parts of the studies that will allow SME, but not ECP to get money from RUS. But isn't ECP part of SME?
"The EIS is funded by Southern Montana Electric G&T, and administered by RUS, and will evaluate the environmental impact of the proposed project."
Here we go again. Funded by SME and their dirty little stepson, ECP. Because ECP is a member when we have 57,000 people who need power, but not when we go ask the govt. for $$$
Well, that's enough for now. My head is spinning from all the acronyms, and I think I'd best stop before this gets too long. Believe it or not, this is only the tip of the things I can think of to write about. There is the EIS statement. Water Rights. Did you know right now Fort Peck is within inches of being at it's lowest level ever, and the gambling boats on the lower Missouri are terrified we might stop letting out water, because they cannot allow gambling when they are anchored. They must be in the channel, and they need water for that. And do you know how many endangered species of fish, or species of concern are listed in the draft EIS for the area below Morony? Know how many your fishing regs identify? Know how much coal cars cost, and how long it takes to get them? Know how much the cost of construction materials has gone up in the last year, and may in the next year? Is Electric City Power actually a corporation since they were involantarily dissolved? Why are they still holding meetings? And spending money? Why can I not find how much money they have actually spent so far? Don't they keep books? Credit, debit, how hard is that? Where do I find how much money the 5 Co-op's have spent?? Where are the Articles of Incorporation for ECP? (Are they filed right beside that acct ledger?) Where is some kind of agreement between SME and ECP saying We spend This, We own This. Are these not standard questions for a project of this magnitude?
What is our City thinking?
There are the environmental pro's and con's, we have treehuggers demanding that we not pollute our air and water with emissions from a coal plant. We have industry experts, this is safe, it will not harm you!
We have warnings about eating to many locally caught fish because of existing high mercury levels in our water, and bald eagles testing positive for mercury posioning.
We have dire predictions about our source of power in the next few years.
We have a fantastic outlook for jobs building the plant, and dire predictons that they will not be filled by local workers.
We have a place to build the plant, with an alleged adequate water supply, out of town, ready to go. Except for the lawsuits over land use and zoning changes.
We have a group of people with experience owning and operating power supply and generation facilities. 5 electrical Co-op's who formed SME. Shortly after, the City of Great Falls joined. These are a couple of things I noticed on the SME website. All emphasis is mine.
"These providers of public power and related services have embarked on a course of action to ensure that their members/consumers – approximately 120,000 Montanans – will have a locally-owned and controlled supply of electric energy."
So they are including the citizens of Great Falls, as members/consumers. But we do not have a right to vote on spending the money to build it.
"The five member cooperatives serve approximately 65,000 Montanans, and the City of Great Falls has a population of 57,000."
That's where they get the 120,000. Us and them. But our City leaders are not sure, at this time, if they are going to sell to us little citizens. If they even can.
"Southern Montana Electric G&T’s HGS will meet wholesale energy needs of the five member cooperatives and the City of Great Falls. HGS will use Montana coal and Montana limestone to generate approximately 250 MW of power that will be earmarked to meet electrical energy needs of approximately 120,000 Montana energy consumers at “cost-based” rates. HGS will be wholly owned by Montana energy consumers."
Again, we have 120,000 consumers who will own this plant we do not get to vote on. And lets look at that closely. At 25% owner, the City will get 25% of the power, right? We have almost half of the people used to justify this project, why only 25%? 25% of the power is 62.5 mW. Right now, the City has contracts to sell 16-20 mW. What we gonna do with all that extra power when we ain't selling it to the 57,000 energy consumers who paid to build the plant. (That would be every Tom, Dick and Harry who pays taxes in the City I believe. Maybe a Paul and couple Joes too. And don't forget Jane.) Do we get dividend checks when the City sells that power to someone else? It's member owned, right?
"Southern Montana Electric G&T will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Services (RUS) for any project financial needs. "
Now, here is one of my problems. This is misleading. ECP is a member of SMEG&T. Right? However, ECP is not getting any money from RUS. The 5 co-ops are getting money from RUS. But we are a member of SME. But we cannot get RUS money because ECP is not a Co-op. So how are we a member of SME when we are removed at will so they can get money ECP has to go to the City for? RUS will not finance the 25% that ECP is funding. The City has, in fact, paid for parts of the studies that will allow SME, but not ECP to get money from RUS. But isn't ECP part of SME?
"The EIS is funded by Southern Montana Electric G&T, and administered by RUS, and will evaluate the environmental impact of the proposed project."
Here we go again. Funded by SME and their dirty little stepson, ECP. Because ECP is a member when we have 57,000 people who need power, but not when we go ask the govt. for $$$
Well, that's enough for now. My head is spinning from all the acronyms, and I think I'd best stop before this gets too long. Believe it or not, this is only the tip of the things I can think of to write about. There is the EIS statement. Water Rights. Did you know right now Fort Peck is within inches of being at it's lowest level ever, and the gambling boats on the lower Missouri are terrified we might stop letting out water, because they cannot allow gambling when they are anchored. They must be in the channel, and they need water for that. And do you know how many endangered species of fish, or species of concern are listed in the draft EIS for the area below Morony? Know how many your fishing regs identify? Know how much coal cars cost, and how long it takes to get them? Know how much the cost of construction materials has gone up in the last year, and may in the next year? Is Electric City Power actually a corporation since they were involantarily dissolved? Why are they still holding meetings? And spending money? Why can I not find how much money they have actually spent so far? Don't they keep books? Credit, debit, how hard is that? Where do I find how much money the 5 Co-op's have spent?? Where are the Articles of Incorporation for ECP? (Are they filed right beside that acct ledger?) Where is some kind of agreement between SME and ECP saying We spend This, We own This. Are these not standard questions for a project of this magnitude?
What is our City thinking?
posted by a-fire-fly at 11:49 AM
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