On 3/9/04 1:42 AM, "Chris Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Crown Hydro will be borrowing $1.1 million from the state's renewable > energy fund, all of which is funded by Xcel Energy as part of their > agreement with the state to store additional spent nuclear fuel casks at > Prairie Island. (If Crown Hydro gets this money, that means it doesn't > go to other renewable energy sources like wind, solar or biomass, right? > A good question for the energy folks out there.) I don't know enough about the Crown Hydro proposal to really comment one way or the other. But I did want to respond to Chris's question about the Renewable Development Fund (RDF). I do believe he is correct that if Crown Hydro gets the money they seek from the RDF, that would leave less available for other renewable energy projects, but I haven't been able to find many specifics about how exactly the program is set up beyond this summary from the state Legislature web site. -------- Minn. Stat. � 116C.779 This statute requires Xcel Energy to transfer to a renewable development account (the "Renewable Development Fund" or RDF) $500,000 annually for each dry cask containing spent fuel that is filled and placed at Xcel's Prairie Island after January 1, 1999. With 17 casks filled and placed, this requirement amounts to $8.5 million a year that Xcel is required to devote to the development of renewable energy. Money from the fund is spent with the approval of the Public Utilities Commission, but the RDF is an account internal to Xcel Energy, not an account in the state treasury. source: State Utility Statutes to Promote Renewable Electric Energy http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/issinfo/ssrnegst.htm -------- However, we do have a former Department of Commerce commissioner who regularly participates in our forum. Perhaps he can enlighten us. Mark Snyder Windom Park REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
