Letters

Say NO to Xcel Energy's CapX2020 transmission line

11/3/2009 7:35:01 AM

Comments (3)

I attended the CapX2020 power line meeting Tuesday Oct 27, in Mazeppa. Xcel Energy claims there is a growing demand for power -- that's why they want to build massive 15-story high transmission lines (paid for by rate-payers) and take people's land (eminent domain), cutting through scenic Minnesota onto La Crosse, Madison, and points east to sell the power there.

The proposed routes for these lines, will cut through century old farms, and impact 25,000 private property landowners, who have a small voice compared to Xcel, D.O.T, DNR, and other government agencies. The fact is we can save the nearly $2 billion.

We don't need CapX. Xcel had nearly a "12 percent drop in peak demand" from 2006-2008, and reductions continue in '09 (Xcel energy SEC filings). Efficiency efforts are working and power use is down. CapX gained approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commision on old data.

Thankfully, the Citizens

Energy Task Force and two other groups are formally appealing the "need" in the Minnesota Court of Appeals, but the legal power of the utilities is daunting. Utilities profit by building high voltage lines that we pay for.

A better approach is to upgrade existing lower voltage lines as needed, and invest in smart grid technologies that will carry us into the future.

Contact your legislators and tell them we don't need CAPX2020.

Dean Regnier

Mazeppa

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flightlin
e
Rochester, mn

Posted on 11/3/2009 at 4:10:46 PM

This project is 4 separate transmission lines to be built in phases with projected demand. They will also connect the wind generation projects primarily in the western parts of the state with the heavier populated eastern part. The lines passing over farmland is not the end of life as we know it. The lines are no different than other 345KV lines that have been transmitting power across the state for decades. Follow some of those older lines, there is not scorched earth under them, but actually livestock and crops and pastures. Running around shouting “Save Minnesota” is kind of ridiculous.

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Lantern
rochester, mn

Posted on 11/6/2009 at 1:13:59 PM

Electric transmission power lines carry voltage greater than 35 to 65kV and radiate electro-magnetic fields, which are known to interact with animal tissues making them potentially dangerous. Although less than 2% of the population experiences magnetic fields which are dangerous, there is validated research that electric fields from power lines ionize air particles that are carcinogenic (aka cancer). Living further than 400 feet from a transmission line or 2000 feet downwind from the ionized air particles may provide an adequate margin of safety. The utility industry aggressively acts to minimize such dangers through the issuance of exculpatory statements and its funding of research that downplays the dangers. But more studies and research are needed to assess the real risks and dangers. Until then, do you want your children playing outside near these power lines? Do you want to eat food that is grown or animals that are raised near these power lines?

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OnlyTheTr
uth
MN, MN

Posted on 11/8/2009 at 12:09:10 PM

Lantern- Who will be living right next or under to these lines? Nobody. If a beef cow grazed nearby and you ate it, what are you saying is going to happen to you? More Chicken Little stuff.

This has been going on for decades. You can say the same for radio transmitters. Stand in front of one on top of a building and you will fry.

Take the protective shielding off from a microwave oven and you will fry.

Drive a car down a road and you may crash, due to someone else’s fault.

Do you drive?

As for these 345KV towers, the last time I heard, they will be the SINGLE pole type and not the lattice structures one sees near a large metro or coming out of a power plant.

The “visual” pollution is a lot less than those wind turbine twirlies.

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