Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Nothing will stop Big Stone II

Nothing will stop Big Stone II

Sep 08, 2006 - 02:06:19 CDT

By CAROL OVERLAND
Red Wing, Minn.

I’ve just returned from Bismarck and a tour of Coal Creek and Falkirk Mine, and let’s be honest — I’m no fan of coal. I’m a utility regulatory attorney, representing landowner intervenors facing utility infrastructure in their communites and their own yards.

The recent letter (“Big Stone plans not irresponsible,” Aug. 29) by Bruce Imsdahl, of Montana-Dakota Utilities, was needlessly defensive. Both he and Beth Goodpaster (“Big Stone II needs a better plan,” Aug. 22) miss important aspects of Big Stone II.

The Big Stone II coal plant has a South Dakota permit. Goodpaster’s team presented their CO2 case, but under South Dakota law, that won’t stop the plant. For the commission’s decision, Commissioner Hanson participated by phone, because he was on a European coal gasification junket sponsored by the Great Plains Institute, which is funded in part by intervenors ME3, the Izaak Walton League and the Joyce Foundation. Inexplicably, Commissioner Sahr recused himself from the later reconsideration decision. Therefore, it seems two of three commissioners may have issues that precluded voting on Big Stone.

The “environmental” intervenors’ CO2 case speculated about market impacts of CO2 regulation, yet didn’t introduce evidence regarding the Chicago Climate Exchange emissions market. This market started in 2003, with CO2 at less than a dollar, and has risen to a present value of over $4. It’s an active market developed by the Joyce Foundation, funder of the environmental intervention and funder of a nationwide effort to regulate CO2. Yes, the same party funding creation of the CO2 market is also funding GPI, which sponsors the Coal Gasification Work Group and coal gasification junkets, and is also funding intervenors and expert witnesses who don’t address the funder’s existing CO2 market. The skids are greased for Big Stone II, generation of more CO2 and expansion of the CO2 market and profits.

BSII is facilitated by transmission lines to be built under Minnesota’s new laws. Imsdahl and Goodpaster may both find a 60 percent construction cost increase, coal and transport cost increase, global warming and mercury-laden fish worrisome, causing uncertainty, but the permit has been issued. It’s up to Minnesota now — Minnesota transmission and Minnesota rates and Minnesota fish and Minnesota health impacts, and what’s to stop it?

But North Dakota coal interests’ focus on Big Stone II is misplaced — Excelsior’s Mesaba coal gasification project in northern Minnesota is the more important canary for North Dakota coal, because if it goes forward, Xcel won’t want a new coal plant for a long time.

News > Opinion

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Comments

Victor Summa, Northfield MN wrote on Sep 9, 2006 3:19 PM:

" The Bismark Tribune.com's September 8 06 Opinion piece by Redwing MN attorney Carol Overland raised a lot of ignorant response. Evidently, much of it from readers who didn't have the courage to leave their full names... or at least you'd conclude that from the "Comments" printed in the E report. Overland has none of the personality traits she's accused of by the Tribune's readers. I know her and her devotion to environmental causes... and of her courage to take on Big Time adversaries. I also can assure you that Overland is not a big bucks barrister. Your readers accuse her of using words beyond their vocabulary skills... confusing the issue with legalize... and misplaced aggression. The only weakness in her letter is she writes from such an informed depth, that evidently a few of your readers can’t get on track with her facts... or, are they are “ringers” writing anonymously for the accused and heaping untruths onto the table of dialogue. Do you really have trouble with the verbiage she uses? Must be the Dakota winters. The point is, celebrate authorities like Overland who have the courage to rip away at the facade of process and show the players for what they really are... participants with their hands close to the tip jar. To the rest of your readers I’d simply say; use Overland's remarks as reference points and check out the facts for yourself. Victor Summa Northfield MN "

Deb wrote on Sep 8, 2006 4:44 PM:

" These comments are a perfect example of misplaced aggression! "

JD wrote on Sep 8, 2006 3:33 PM:

" This letter is a perfect example of why lawyers and attorneys should not be allowed to breed! "

Beesh wrote on Sep 8, 2006 12:24 PM:

" Lawyer talk: If it shows no future for a law suit, reword it to the point it is defamiltory, then sue. This letter reads like she just starting pulling names and issues out of a barrel. "

Huh? Say What? wrote on Sep 8, 2006 8:02 AM:

" Leave it to an attorney to make something as simple as a letter to the editor so convaluted and packed full of rarely used words that one loses interest and doesn't want to finish reading. But they like doing that. The dumber they make you look, the smarter they think they look. Not to mention they get paid ridiculously by the hour to pack anything full of words and legalize. "

Al Gee wrote on Sep 8, 2006 7:53 AM:

" Is this some sort of employee memo that got sent to the wrong place? "

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