$2.2 billion project will overhaul Minnesota's electrical grid

Article by: NEAL ST. ANTHONY , Star Tribune
Updated: February 24, 2013 - 8:30 PM

The $2.2 billion CapX2020 project will modernize Minnesota’s electrical grid and capture wind energy that is sometimes wasted.

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rickconradFeb. 24, 13 7:32 PM

Upgrading the grid to improve reliablity is the responsible thing to do. I am not sure how this means that wind will become the cheapest form of energy "because the fuel is free". The costs of wind energy come from the infrastructure to generate the power and maintenance of the turbines not the "fuel". Wind energy, when you factor in its actual costs,is about three times more expensive than coal and natural gas which are the cheapest sources of reliable electricity. The real problem being solved by CapX2020 is how coal plants in South Dakota can expand there market share to distant cities like Chicago.

alanmullerFeb. 24, 13 7:32 PM

This story reads like a puff piece for the transmission industry. No mention, for example, of the fact that in most cases the real intent, as shown in the details of the applications, is to facilitate burning more coal. It's even more disgraceful that the House Energy Policy Committee is hearing from MISO--transmission people--and not seeking out or even allowing testimony from the other side of the story.

rolflindyFeb. 25, 13 8:44 AM

Wind's low capacity factor(29%) means that much of capacity of those new lines dedicated to wind farms will likely be idle.

esandeenFeb. 25, 13 5:06 PM

rolflindy, I'm sure you know that a 29% capacity factor does not mean that the wind output is zero 71% of the time. So even if the lines are being built to deliver wind power, "idle" is not accurate. Underutilized at times, perhaps - just like any other transmission line that is not delivering at times of peak demand ...