Minnesota Signs Deal With Manitoba Hydro
WINNIPEG -- - The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has unanimously approved a $1.7 billion power export deal with Manitoba Hydro.
It allows Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy to import power from Manitoba Hydro, despite the objections of aboriginal groups.
The 500-megawatt, 10-year deal was given the go-ahead.
It's an extension of an existing deal and will allow power to be exported until 2015.
Approval by Canada's National Energy Board is pending.
The Minnesota decision is a blow to the Pimicikamak Cree Nation of Cross Lake, Manitoba. They had asked the commission to first call a formal hearing into the social and economic impact of historic hydro development on their homeland.
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Prepare for blackouts across the U.S. as summer takes hold
WASHINGTON - US Summer Grid Blackout Risk: NERC and FERC warn of strained reliability as drought, heat waves, and transmission constraints hit MISO, hydro, and renewables, elevating blackout exposure and highlighting demand response and storage solutions.
Key Points
A forecast of summer power shortfalls across the US grid, driven by heat, drought, transmission limits, and a changing resource mix.
✅ NERC and FERC warn of elevated blackout risk and reliability gaps.
✅ MISO region strained by drought, heat, and limited hydro.
✅ Mitigations: demand response, storage, and stronger transmission.
Just when it didn’t seem things couldn’t get worse…
