HomeMy WebLinkAboutweekly notes October 14th 2016 ti);� o Z �
Memo " TO: City Council Members FROM: Eric John A istrator
WEEKLY NOTES— October 7 ,2016
Zoning I Development Items
1. The City has not received any new development applications; Staff has met with a developer about a new hotel being
placed in the area- Staff might seek a closed session with the City Council on this matter depending on possible desired
sites.Also,a new Mexican restaurant is planned to go into the retail center where Kowalski's is located.
2. Please see the STAR TRIBUNE article about the closure of the SHERCO coal plants in Becker,MN.This plan would seek
to take 750+/-MW of coal generated electricity off the grid and replace them with possibly a natural gas system and/or
wind and/or electricity savings.This action,to a limited extent,barring some significant new technology coming on-line—
would lead one to a conclusion that the King facility—at 450 MW—would be also hard to replace in the grid supply,thus
it would not seem likely at this time that a King plant closure is in the near term.The CUC will be holding a meeting next
week to better understand these issues. While this is a detail I am sure was discussed,natural gas prices are at a very
low rates per(BTU or THERM)and while there is abundant supply in the United States,these prices can be volatile in the
long-term.So,it will be interesting if there is actually a construction of a base-load plant to be fired by Natural gas,versus
a small scale peaking plant that only comes on-line when necessary—only time will tell.
ST.Croix diver Crossing
See the enclosed 10/13/16 Update.
1 S
Other Items seri
• There will be an OPEN HOUSE this Saturday at the new Bayport Fire Station -9 am to
,y
noon
• The storm water work at the north end of Perkins Ave.has been completed_See map-> ti
• The new water lines installed on 65e Street did not pass their first bacteria testing,more W
- '
chlorination time is need before these can be fully energized and connected to the homes -'
and temporary water removed.I have not yet heard a updated timeline for the base asphalt,
but to the best of my knowledge all of the underground work is completed. `
• To date the City has received two of the three union proposals and has received an update -M26
on health care costs(being +/-9% in total) and dental costs (0%). These issues will be
begun to be sorted through in earnest over the coming weeks.
Mayor McComber Provided:
Conversations in the Valley—for 10/19/16
Please call me at any time if you have questions...651-253-7837
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Minn.regulators approve Xcel plan to shut down Becker coal-fired plants- StarTribune.c... Page 1 of 2
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State regulators approve Xcel's plan to
shut down Becker coal-fired plants
The move,by 2026,will eventually eliminate the state's largest
emitter of greenhouse gases.
By Ildtw Huehlett Od*//wwwsdrhibune eom/mi 7n Star Tribune
OCTOUR D.ZIM—122"
Minnesota utility regulators'1 birsdpy approved X-1 Energy's plans to shut down its big
coal Syed generators in Becker,Mina,by 2026,a move that will eventually eliminate the
state's largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
They also directed Xcel to submit a plan for replacing a big chunk of that lost coal
generation at its Sheoo plant But the Public Utilities Commission(PUC)didn't approve
Xcers solution of building a large gas-powered generation plant on the Sherco site,a
pial power replacement
Essentially,the PUC asked Xcel to look more closely at renewable energy alternatives—
along with the gas plant—to help compensate for the loss of the Sherco,coal plants.
Plus,the cormnission told Xcel to consider more"demand side"management—for
example,measures to reduce customer energy use.
`There's a process we need to go through to make slue we are not missing something,"
PUC Commissioner Dan Upschultz said at an allay meeting on Thursday.
A year ago,Xcel proposed closing its two wholly-owned Sheroo coal generators—each
of which can generate 682 megawatts of electricity—in 2023 and 2026.Built in the
1970s,they are Xcel's two largest Powe'plants in Minnesota "
As a partial replacement,Xoel proposed a new 786-megawatt"combined cycle"gas-
hieled plant,which uses gas and steam turbines to produce electricity more efficiently
than just gas alone Natural gas-fired power plants emit about half as much greenhouse (hVJ/stmedie.stertribune.comfimBBeslows 14635265001569
gases as those that non on coal GLEN STUBBE.STAR TRIBUNE FILE
Power generation at Sherco in 2012.
The PUC Thursday found that based on Xcel's review of its generation requirements—
as well as the Minnesota Department of Connnerce's assessment—there will be a need
for about 750 megawatts of poorer capacity when the second Shgrco 9-1 generator is
dosed.
Xcel took that finding to mean it's on the right path with a new natural gas plant in
Bim.
'Today's[PUC]decision gives a dear path as we advance our filing for a gas combined
cycle unit at the[Sherco]site,which we are confident is the best resource for our
customers and the reliability of our system,"Chris Clark,president of Xcel's Minnesota
operations,said in a news release.
Environmental groups,which were against authorizing a new gas-fired plant now,were
happy with the PUC decision.
"We think this is really good policy,"said J.Drake Hamilton,science policy director for
Fresh Energy,a St Paul renewable energy research and advocacy group.
"It acknowledges state law,which says the commission cannot approve a new fossil fuel
plant unless it is in the public interest,"she said.And that means the state must evaluate
whether renewable energy sources could cost-effectively fill a generation need.
The Mianesota Commerce Department also favored early retirement of the Sherco coal
generators,and it concluded that 750 megawatts from a combined cycle Powe'pmt
would be a"least-cost"resource.Still,the Commerce Department did not specifically
recommend a plant at the Sherco site.
"We do think[Xcel]has laid out a good case for a combined cycle plant at that
location,"Bill grant,commerce's deputy commissioner,told the PUC Thursday."But
we do think the commission has an obligation to make sure we are looking at least-cost
alternatives for ratepayers."
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http://www.starUibuiie.com/state-regulators-approve-xcel-s-plan-to-shut-down-becker-co... 10/14/2016
Minn.regulators approve Xcel plan to shut down Becker coal-fired plants- StarTribune.c... Page 2 of 2
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Dayton Thursday. (HTrPS;//USER&STARTRIBUNE.COM/MEMBER CENTER)
--Che decision not to commit to a natural gas unit at the Sherco plant in Becher will
mean ongoing uncertainty for the plant's workers and local community for the
foreseeable future,"tJe-bqwq W in g§tat_e_me_,
Rick E lendricmon,a Becker City Council member,agreed Had they come out and said
786 megawatts of power at Sherco,that would have put a lot of people's nerves at rest."
Xcel is a major employer and taxpayer in Becimr.Sherco's 310 employees would decline
to between 150 and 160 after the two coal generators are replaced with the natural gas
plant.
John Tuma,a Republican PUC commission,said at Thursday's hearing that he voted
for the Sherco measure because it's obvious that the best alternative is the gas-fired
generator.
"In the end,we will have a Sherco combined cycle plant,built byXoel,"he said."We all
know thafs what it's going to be."
Also on Thursday,the PUC essentially voted in favor of Xcel's acquisition of 1,000
megawatts of wind power by 2019.Last month,XOel announced it would add 1,500
megawatts ofwind power in the Upper Midwest by 2020—much ofit in Minnesota.
That's enough electricity to power 750,000 homes,at least when the wind is blowing
The PUC vote"allows us to invest more in wind,giving customers more renewable
energy options while continuing to ensure reliable service and support for our
communities by advancing the replacement energy generation at our Sherburne County
plant,"said Xoers Clark in a statement
Xcel is the leading U.S.utility in wind power generation.
mikeJuolettpstaMbune com 612.673-7003
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http://www.startribulie.com/state-regulators-approve-xcel-s-plan-to-shut-down-becker-co... 10/14/2016
Eric Johnson
From: Mary Mccomber <marymccomber@aol.com>
Sent: Thursday,October 13,201610:30 AM
To: Eric Johnson
Subject: Fwd: Minn.approach work highlights
---Original Message--
From: St Croix Crossing Project Team<stcroixcrossing.dot@public.govdelivery.com>
To: marymccomber<marymccomber@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Oct 13,2016 9:30 am
Subject: Minn. approach work highlights
Having trouble viewing this email?View it as a Web page.
AMMinn. approach work
14jow CROSSING highlights
October 13,2016
Hello again,
Next week we will move into our winter email schedule. This means,we will no longer be
sending out an email on a weekly basis, rather we will highlight construction milestones as
they occur. Please follow us on Facebook and Tw tter so you don't miss any project
happenings!
In early October, crews completed all segment placement at Piers 8— 12 on the St. Croix
River, but construction continues on the Minn. approach. Crews have started removing the
falsework for the cast-in-place portion of the eastbound on-ramp to Hwy 36. Falsework is
a temporary structure that helps support the segments during the construction process.
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Crews remove the falsework at the cast-in-place on ramp from Hwy 36. Photo from Oct.
11.
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On Oct. 7, crews placed the project's final segment at Pier 5,which will become part of the
westbound off-ramp to Hwy 95. Photo from Oct. 7.
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Bottom-up view of westbound Pier 5,which will become the off-ramp to Hwy 95
westbound and carry traffic thru the on-site casting yard. Crews continue grading of the
on-site casting yard. Photo from Oct, 0:
On water
On Oct.4, crews placed the final bridge deck segment at Pier 11. Now that all segments
are placed, crews will take the winter to complete closure pours. Closure pours are filling
in the 2 Y2-foot gap left between each Pier tower once segment placement is complete.
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Now that segment placement is complete, crews began the demobilization of the segment
lifters. Photo from Oct. 6.
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View of Piers 8- 12 (left to right)taken from the Minn. shoreline. Crews have completed all
segment placement on the river. Photo from Oct. 11.
Stay connected
• Sign-up for project email updates
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Visit the project website
• Call the project hotline at 1-855-GO-CROIX(462-7649)
• Stop by the St. Croix Crossing Project Office at 1862 Greeley St. S. in Stillwater.
Office hours are 8 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. M-F.
MnDOT • mndot.gov
Stay Connected with Minnesota Department of Transportation:
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Transportation•395 John Ireland Blvd•Saint Paul,MN 55155
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OL
I ST.CROIX VALLEY FOUNDA'T'ION rA 516 Second Street,Suite 214
Z"tHudson,WI 54016
Celebrating 20 years 715.386.9490
,� of serving the St. Croix Valley www.scvfoundation.org
Conversations of the Valley
A public affairs luncheon series sponsored by the
St. Croix Valley Foundation
"What will our Children Think?"
with guest speaker
Dave Durenberger
A three-term progressive Republican Senator from Minnesota explores what's at stake for each of us
and for our country as the nation decides who will be its next President. Dave will also explain why
he believes that Minnesota has in its recent history the prescription for change and will ask us what
role we are willing to play in restoring confidence in our institutions and our leaders.
Dave Durenberger was born,raised,and educated at St. John's University in Collegeville,MN. He
became Executive Secretary to Harold Le Vander,his law partner when he was elected Governor of
Minnesota exactly 50 years ago. In 1978 he was elected to the four-year balance of the Senate term
of Hubert H. Humphrey and his wife Muriel and re-elected in 1982 and 1988. He retired in 1995 to
serve on the Graduate Business School faculty at the University of St. Thomas and founded its
National Institute of Health policy from which he retired in May,2014.
Dave Durenberger, and his wife Susan Bartlett Foote, are the parents of six and the grandparents of
12,varying in age from 8 to 22.
Please note our change of
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
venue with ramp parking 11:30 a.m.to 1:00 p.m.
validation! The Lowell Inn, 102 N. Second Street, Stillwater
The cost of the lunch and program is$17 and must be paid in advance to guarantee your reservation.(Any
payments received on the day of the event will be charged$20 a ticket,if seats available.)
To make a reservation(due in SCVF offices by noon prior to the day of luncheon):
F1
• mail your check to: SCVF,516 Second St.#214,Hudson,W154016,or FIRST STATE
• make your reservation by credit card online at:
www.scvfoundation.org/conversations-of-the-valley,using the PayPal BANK AND TRUST
YmM.fnl+'
system. There is a$1.00 processing fee per person using PayPal. Supported with a generous
rontn'bution from First State
Please note: doors open at 11:15 a.m. Bank and Trust
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