Reference
Nevada Hydro Applies for Certificate of Public Convenience and Public Necessity to build the Talage-Escondido/Valley-Serrano transmission line (Oct 9, 2007)
Dr. Pinnow's Comments on Major Developments on the LEAPS Project (Oct. 22, 2007)
Why LEAPS is not economically viable
What credible persons and agencies say
Lies, Inaccuracies, and Misleading Statements
References, documents and links
Dr. Pinnow's Comments on Major Developments on the LEAPS Project (Oct. 22, 2007)
During the past month there have been two major developments on the LEAPS Project that are likely related. First, in late September, EVMWD's law firm, Best Best & Krieger, sent a draft Memo of Understanding (MOU) to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The draft MOU covers a new arrangement between EVMWD and the CPUC on how these two organizations will work together to prepare the necessary Environmental Impact Report for the LEAPS Project. Significantly, both Best Best &Krieger's forwarding letter to the CPUC and the MOU emphasized that EVMWD will be the "Operator" of the LEAPS Project (power plant and power lines) when built. This is a major change from the terms in the old 1997 Development Agreement which specifies that Nevada Hydro would operate LEAPS. Also significant is the fact that the draft MOU downplays Nevada Hydro's role in the LEAPS Project.
Since it is now well recognized that the power plant portion of the LEAPS Project is not economically viable, one may presume that the intent of the above MOU is make EVMWD the "operator" of the high voltage power line that will run through the Cleveland National Forest.
Then, on October 9th, Nevada Hydro made an application (PDF 2.4mb) directly to the CPUC for a Certificate to build the LEAPS high-voltage power line. Interestingly, this application downplayed EVMWD's role in the power line project.
Based on reviewing these two different filings with the CPUC, it appears that EVMWD and Nevada Hydro may be starting to work at cross purposes and, specifically, they have not yet been able to reach an agreement on how to divide the potential "spoils" that will be generated after building the LEAPS Power Line.
It is unfortunate that a public agency like EVMWD has continued to be so secretive about most all aspects of the LEAPS Project for the past five years. That forces their rate-payers (like me) to speculate about their motives and objectives. EVMWD's actions also subvert the intent of the Brown Act that requires full public disclosure of such matters.
However, one urgent matter has been made very clear by the CPUC. If anyone cares to protest Nevada Hydro's application for a Certificate to build the LEAPS Power Line, the protest must be filed within 30 days of the CPUC's Notice of Application for a Certificate that is dated October 17, 2007.