Report From The MAPP Meeting In Denton, MD

I want to first start this posting off by thanking Dr. Memo Diriker of Salisbury University's BEACON who served as the moderator. His well honed knowledge and experience of keeping a productive meeting in order was of a great benefit throughout the affair. Even though the meeting was to be for the benefit of Citizens of Caroline County, the Small Group in Opposition to MAPP who were from Dorchester County, showed up with the mind set that they were going to disrupt the proceedings and make it a three ring calamity. Dr. Diriker took control right from the start and let it be known that this was not going to be tolerated as it had sadly been allowed in earlier MAPP meetings held within Dorchester County. There were a few dimwits from the Dorchester Group who did try to make speeches and disrupt the “Question and Answer” secession but Dr. Diriker dressed down those individuals and kept everything an organized bases.

The event was sparsely attended and of the crowd of about 40, half were from the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Dorchester Citizens for Safe Energy. The leading arguments from DCSE/ESLC was that PHI was not passing on any answers to their questions.

Bob Jubic of Pepco Holdings Inc. (PHI) made his presentation first outlining potential MAPP routes and welcomed citizen’s inputs. Bob Jubic pledged to continue to work to provide information as it becomes available and mentioned the MAPP office in Cambridge and the ability for people to come three days a week to learn more about the project. (Later after the meeting was over, I asked a PHI representative if anyone from DCSE opposition group or ESLC had come by the office to ask any questions since it had been open. The PHI representative said that no one from any of these groups has visited. You can summarize if DCSE/ESLC really wanted to know more information, or did they just want to grandstand and make nihilistic whining in front of the press.)

When Richard Klein introduced himself, he stated that he was representing an alliance of 1,000 Dorchester County residents. (Which is only 1/32 of Dorchester population by the way) He also went on to admit that in the beginning of this debate, those in opposition were taking the viewpoint that the energy needs for the Delmarva Peninsula was just a fabrication. I was encouraged when he reencountered that statement and admitted that upon their own studies, that the availability of electrical power was lacking for the Peninsula and the need to increase the electrical supply was needed. Mr. Klein said they've had hired their own expert, a PhD, who has told them that YES, INDEED, there is a need to do something to address the energy issues facing the peninsula! I want to thank Mr. Klein for this admission.

Mr. Klein spoke of a prediction that the Harriett Tubman Park is going to triple the tourism income in Dorchester, and said that some people are suggesting it would become the next Gettysburg. Where this sounded good, he did not produce any marketing study to support this statement so it was just apparent that this economic tourism boom was based on nothing more than wishful speculation. For the past 20 years this Dorchester Department of Tourism has not produced any income review to date, and I see no evidence that anything has changed in this Status Quo. For the most, the balance of Mr. Klein’s debating arguments were just as nihilistic and really brought no true value to the discussion.

Tolbert Rowe, a banker in Denton, asked the question how long it would take to get a Garbage Incinerator built and Bob Jubic said he probably couldn't.

(I present this factual information that the Delmarva Peninsula is already loosing opportunities from industries that would provide employment because of the lack of electrical reliability concerns.) Mr. Rowe asked Memo Diriker whether he knew of any companies that had either left the Shore or not located here as a result of energy issues. Memo said yes, he knew of two clients he's worked with that chose not to come here, one because of reliability concerns.


WARNING TO EVERYONE IN DORCHESTER:
Mr. Klein did reveal a very dangerous aspect that his group is trying to promote. It was when he made the statement about new generation at Vienna burning “Biomass Waste” which would create 150 permanent jobs. Let me define the term “Biomass.” What he is truly saying that a company called Fibrowatt will be bring in train loads and tractor trailer loads of poultry litter for incineration right in the town of VIENNA!!! I would speculate that it would not be long before all animal manure waste, (Hog, Cow, including human septic sludge), would be brought into Vienna to be burned for this process.

If this Small Group in Opposition (DCSE/ESLC members) gets their way, not only Dorchester County but all surrounding Counties of Talbot, Caroline, Worchester, Queen Anne, etc will suffer economically. GET THESE STUPID PEOPLE STOPPED NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!!!

Obama promotes “Smart Grid”

I thought that I would pass on this article from the Associated Press with the regards to the Posting I did earlier called, “The Smart Grid.” In that posting I explained the Federal Mandate to upgrade, diversify, and make more stable this nations electrical grid. The projects of TrAIL, Path, and MAPP are a great part of this upgrade.

As I attended the MAPP meeting in Denton last week, Richard Klein said he was representing an alliance of over 1,000 Dorchester County residents. Now looking at some marketing facts, according to the source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division in July, 2008, the population of Dorchester County is 31, 998. So 1000/31,998 = only .03125 or 1/32 of the population. But yet the small group who are against MAPP claim they are the majority?!?!?!? Well the facts say otherwise. This fraction is just reflective of Dorchester County so if you factor in the rest of the Delmarva Peninsula this ratio gets exponentially lower.

When Bob Jubic of Pepco Holdings spoke, he displayed the different routes being considered, many being run underground, and Richard Klein said that this was the first he had heard of any routes being run underground. As I sat directly behind Libby Nagel and the ESLC members who were probably being paid to be there, just shaking their heads and grunting when factual information was being passed that they did not want to listen to. One member of ESLC even asked when these underground routes came about. As I stated in my posting and comments in the August 12, 2009 posting titled, "Dorchester Tourist Board’s Blatant Lie," I stated then that Delmarva Power has offered to bury the conductor. My source for this information was the local news papers, so where was everyone else who claim to know what is going on with MAPP when this information was made public? It is just very Freudian what information this Small Group in Opposition wants to review and pass on should it not meet their limited viewpoints.

I will post more about this MAPP’s meeting in Denton, MD but for now, below is the Associated Press release supporting the Federal Mandate to upgrade the electrical grid infrastructure.

The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:57 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — After an overnight stay in Miami, President Barack Obama heads to Arcadia, Fla., to promote "smart grid" technologies.
Obama on Tuesday will tour the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center where he'll announce Recovery Act funding for a variety of "smart grid" technologies. The technologies are designed to make the nation's electricity grid more reliable and efficient and allow for the integration of clean, renewable energy. They also can help consumers save money.

PJM Board Approves Annual Grid Upgrade Plan!!!

As the small group opponents of MAPP tactics of trying to postpone the process by calling for long-term planning for our energy needs, this is what PJM’s purpose is, and that's what they've been doing the whole time. Just another example that this small group in oppsition have no real knowledge of what they are talking about.

Based on the national mandate by Congress to upgrade and incorporate the “Smart Grid” technology into our electrical infrastructural grid, PJM has reaffirmed the need for MAPP, and other transmission upgrades. Even after reviewing all the generation projects on the table they have made their authorization approval.

Construction of the first leg of this electrical grid upgrade, TrAIL, and it is well under way now as we speak. The City of Fairmont WV, an economically depress city that is much like Cambridge is today, has just had a big injection of annual salaried jobs to the tune of $12 Million Per Year because TrAIL opened it’s regional offices in Fairmount.

http://www.aptrailinfo.com/allegheny-energy-breaks-ground-for-its-new-transmission-operations-headquarters-bringing-150-new-jobs-to-fairmont.html

Kudos to the City of Fairmont, WV for their foresight and recognizing the financial benefits of working together with TrAIL, PATH, and MAPP’s grid upgrade infrastructure!!! You have done well by your citizens!!!

Sadly, the leaders in Dorchester County, MD are still wasting the taxpayers money because they want to keep things as they were 150 years ago, enforcing their "No Growth" mandate. What a sad little group that is trying to force us all to be left behind as the rest of the country and world progresses forward. Now it is happening without their support and someone else will get the high paying and stable jobs with the head office opening in their area. We have a chance with the new MAPP office that has opened in Cambridge. It is now up to us to say that we want to support them.

Please note below:

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The PJM Interconnection Board has authorized an additional $1.4 billion in electric transmission systems additions and upgrades throughout the grid that serves 51 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia. The upgrades are required to keep electricity flowing and ensure the power supply system meets national standards through 2024.

"There's nothing more essential to our business than planning for and achieving the infrastructure needed to ensure the reliable power supplies consumers expect," said PJM President and CEO Terry Boston. "The upgrades that the Board has approved represent dozens of projects that individually and collectively maintain the reliability of the power system."
The upgrades authorized by the PJM Board since 2000, including the most recent approvals, total more than $14.7 billion in investment. They result from PJM's Regional Transmission Expansion Planning process which evaluates electric transmission changes and needs over a 15-year horizon. This plan allows time to make the necessary infrastructure upgrades and improvements and to adjust to ever changing needs.

The current regional plan reaffirms the need for several major transmission line projects that the board previously had authorized to address power supply problems. These so-called "transmission backbone" projects are:
Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL), 502 Junction to Loudon. Construction is well under way on TrAIL, and it will be in service in 2011. This 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line will run from near the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia to northern Virginia. .

Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, (PATH), Amos to Kemptown. This 765-kV transmission line will extend about 300 miles from the Amos Substation in West Virginia to the Kemptown Substation in Maryland.
Susquehanna to Roseland. This 500-kV line will run approximately 130 miles from northern Pennsylvania to northern New Jersey.

Mid Atlantic Power Pathway Project (MAPP). This 500-kV line will connect the Possum Point Substation in Virginia to Indian River Substation on the Delmarva Peninsula.
In addition to the studies to determine what transmission additions and upgrades are necessary to ensure reliability, the PJM planning process included 195 studies that evaluated the impact of adding new generation on the system.
Studies of other projects remain underway as PJM continually analyzes regional transmission needs. The PJM Board periodically reviews proposed updates to the regional transmission plan.

PJM Interconnection ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 51 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. PJM coordinates and directs the operation of the region's transmission grid, which includes 6,038 substations and 56,350 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion.

The Smart Grid

In my earlier postings I have pointed out that the Small Group In Opposition to MAPP do not even understand the rudimentary basics of electricity. It came to me that I needed to switch into a more mentoring mode and explain how not only MAPP, TrAIL or PATH, but many other similar transmission projects across this nation came about. I should also add that this upgrade in the electrical grid structure is not unique to the United States but is also going on right now in Australia, Canada, China, and European Union.

I want to start off with a quote from the U.S. Department of Energy:

“Our nation’s electric power infrastructure that has served us so well for so long, also known as “the grid,” is rapidly running up against its limitations. Our lights may be on, but systemically, the risks associated with relying on an often overtaxed grid grow in size, scale and complexity every day. From national challenges like power system security to these global in nature such as climate change, our near-term agenda is formidable. Some might even say history making.”

In 2009 President Barack Obama asked the United States Congress, “To act without delay to pass legislation that included doubling alternative energy production in the next three years and build a new electricity “Smart Grid.” As a result the Department of Energy has been charged with orchestrating the wholesale modernization of our nation’s electrical grid.

Currently Smart Grid companies represent one of the largest and fastest growing sectors in the “Cleantech” market. It currently receives more than half of the venture capital investments.

A Quick History Lesson:
Today’s alternating current power grid evolved after 1896, based on Nikola Tesla’s designs that he established in 1888. Up to this date, many implementation decisions that are still in use today were made for the first time using the limited emerging technology that was available 120 years ago.

What Is A Grid?
An "electricity grid" is not a single entity but an aggregate of multiple networks and multiple power generation companies with multiple operators employing varying levels of communication and coordination, most of which is manually controlled. Smart grids increase the connectivity, automation and coordination between these suppliers, consumers and networks that perform either long distance transmission or local distribution tasks.

1.Transmission networks move electricity in bulk over medium to long distances, are actively managed, and generally operate from 345kV to 800kV over AC and DC lines.

2.Local networks traditionally moved power in one direction, "distributing" the bulk power to consumers and businesses via lines operating at 132kV and lower.

This paradigm is changing as businesses and homes begin generating more wind and solar electricity, enabling them to sell surplus energy back to their utilities. Modernization is necessary for energy consumption efficiency, real time management of power flows and to provide the bi-directional metering needed to compensate local producers of power. Although transmission networks are already controlled in real time, many in the US and European countries are antiquated by world standards, and unable to handle modern challenges such as those posed by the intermittent nature of alternative electricity generation, or continental scale bulk energy transmission.

What Is A Smart Grid?
A smart grid is an umbrella term that covers modernization of both the transmission and distribution grids. The modernization is directed at a disparate set of goals including facilitating greater competition between providers, enabling greater use of variable energy sources, establishing the automation and monitoring capabilities needed for bulk transmission at cross continent distances, and enabling the use of market forces to drive energy conservation.
Many smart grid features readily apparent to consumers such as smart meters serve the energy efficiency goal. The approach is to make it possible for energy suppliers to charge variable electric rates so that charges would reflect the large differences in cost of generating electricity during peak or off peak periods. Such capabilities allow load control switches to control large energy consuming devices such as hot water heaters so that they consume electricity when it is cheaper to produce.

How Will The Smart Grid Reduce Electrical Demand?
To reduce demand during the high cost peak usage periods, communications and metering technologies inform smart devices in the home and business when energy demand is high and track how much electricity is used and when it is used. To motivate them to cut back use and perform what is called peak curtailment or peak leveling, prices of electricity are increased during high demand periods, and decreased during low demand periods.

Why Is The Smart Grid Essential For Renewable Energy?
Supporters of renewable energy favor smarter grids, because most renewable energy sources are intermittent in nature, depending on natural phenomena (the sun and the wind) to generate power. Thus, any type of power infrastructure using a significant portion of intermittent renewable energy resources must have means of effectively reducing electrical demand by "load shedding" in the event that the natural phenomena necessary to generate power do not occur.

What Is The Major Driving Force?
The major driving forces to modernize current power grids can be divided in four, general categories.

1.Increasing reliability, efficiency and safety of the power grid.

2.Enabling decentralized power generation so homes can be both an energy client and supplier (provide consumers with interactive tool to manage energy usage).

3.Flexibility of power consumption at the client’s side to allow supplier selection (enables distributed generation, solar, wind, biomass).

4.Increase Gross Domestic Product by creating more new, green-collar energy jobs related to renewable energy industry manufacturing, plug-in electric vehicles, solar panel and wind turbine generation, energy conservation construction.

What Is The Smart Grid Going To Be Able To Do?
Before examining particular technologies, a proposal can be understood in terms of what it is being required to do. The governments and utilities funding development of grid modernization have defined the functions required for smart grids. According to the United States Department of Energy's Modern Grid Initiative report, a modern smart grid must:

1.Be able to heal itself
2.Motivate consumers to actively participate in operations of the grid
3.Resist attack
4.Provide higher quality power that will save money wasted from outages
5.Accommodate all generation and storage options
6.Enable electricity markets to flourish
7.Run more efficiently

Now to summarize and bring this information full circle, as I have explained before, you need different transmission lines coming into the electrical distribution regions for the Smart Grid technology to be able to switch to should one source fail. Those who say that MAPP is not needed do not understand the big picture that if this nation’s green energy policies are to be achieved, you need the transmission lines to bring the generation into the electrical distribution regions with the access being controlled by the Smart Grid technology. It is the multiple transmission lines into the electrical distribution regions is what makes the electrical distribution regions consistent and secure being controlled by the Smart Grid technology. For those who are saying that MAPP does not need to be built, I simply ask you to refer back to the national mandated quote from the Department of Energy.

As always I will be glad to answer all intelligent questions should you have any but after this posting, if the Small Group In Opposition to MAPP still does not understand the purpose for MAPP, it is because they don’t want to.

Counterpoint Reply to Dustin Holt’s Article, “Tour shows how MAPP would impact County” from the Star Democrat

Again I have taken an article from the Star Democrat this time written by Dustin Holt and given a Point / Counter Point reply to the inaccurate statements. For my readers with intellectual minds:

VIENNA The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the Dorchester Citizens for Safe Energy along with the Dorchester County Tourism Department organized a lunch and a tour through Dorchester County Wednesday to show the impact the proposed Mid-Atlantic Power Pathway project would have on the county's agriculture and wildlife.

Counter Point:
(Let’s start out with who the controlling people in opposition to MAPPs really are. The daughter of Vienna Mayor Russell Brinsfield of Vienna, use to work for ESLC and is now head of the Dorchester County Tourism Department your tax dollars at work for their special interest. ECLC gets it funding from the State of Maryland so again I should point out that this is all your tax money being wasted on this small group’s whims. You are not in control of how your tax money is being wasted on this little lunch ride, the incestuous relationships, of inbred Dorchester County are.)

The MAPP project plans to build a 150-mile high-voltage electricity transmission line that would go from the Possum Point generation facility in Prince William County, Va., to the Indian River generation facility in Sussex County, Del.
As proposed, towers about 150-feet tall would carry the line through 27 miles of Dorchester County from Taylor's Island to Vienna. The towers would consume 650 acres of county agriculture, forest and rural lands, according to the ESLC.

Counter Point:
(Again the buzz words, “consume 650 acres of county agriculture, forest and rural lands,” are still being used when these people have been given many examples from this site that it is not even close to being accurate. Now you can interject “knowingly misinforming again” from this small group in opposition. Decisions based on lies, are still lies.)

Representatives for state officials and local dignitaries along with local residents met for lunch at the E.A. Murphy Community Center in Vienna. Former Maryland Gov. Harry Hughes spoke at the lunch about the impact the MAPP project would have on the county.
"Many of us are opposed to it (the MAPP Project) because insufficient studies have been done for this line," Hughes said, who is an advisory committee member of the ESLC. "Have they looked at alternatives?"

Counter Point:
(Nothing has been decided as routes and, “Yes Mr. Hughes, many different routes are being reviewed by the true decision makers, Public Service Commission.")

Hughes said one alternative is to improve the Vienna Power Plant, which is not operating at full power. He said another alternative is to introduce energy conservation standards to reduce the need for the power lines.

Counter Point:
(Again I will have to state that the Vienna Power Plant would not be cost effective to burn coal or oil compared to the Roth Ridge Wind Farm array in Garrett County, which is a source of power that MAPP could bring to the Delmarva Peninsula. It was this type of lack of knowledge and due diligence of a subject that during your term as Governor of Maryland led to the Savings and Loan crisis in this state.)

"This is a massive project that will disrupt the landscape," Hughes said. "There are too many unknowns with no alternatives considered. As far as I can see, there is no need to rush into this."
Vienna Mayor Russell Brinsfield, who is one of the founders of ESLC, also spoke at the lunch.
He said the MAPP project would permanently and negatively impact Vienna.

Counter Point:
(How so more than the seven 69kV – 230kV transmission lines already running through Vienna and surrounding areas? Mayor Russell Brinsfield gives no supporting facts or examples to the negative.)

He said alternatives to the proposed MAPP project should include the state promoting energy conversation and renewable resources.
"Promote incentives for industry and private sector residents to conserve electricity; not just on a voluntary basis but actually offer incentives," Brinsfield said. "Also, if we can create a market for farmers to grow switchgrass as a biofuel, not only would that increase the economic viability in our farming industry, it would also help save the Bay."

Counter Point:
(I agree with this statement whole heartily and private industry is doing this now as we speak. Blue Water Wind, Roth Rock Wing, Solar Panels being erected in Dover, De. etc. But again I have to restate, YOU STILL NEED THE TRANSMISSION LINES TO GET THE POWER TO THE CUSTOMERS!!!)

State Sen. Richard Colburn, R-37-Mid-Shore; Del. Addie Eckardt, R-37B-Dorchester; and Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, R-37B-Talbot, were in attendance at the lunch in Vienna.
Eckardt said it is important to preserve the heritage and agriculture in the county. "Our biggest asset is our land, fisheries and agriculture," Eckardt said. "I'm glad stakeholders and government officials are here to get a good tour of Dorchester because that is our best kept secret."
Eckardt said if the MAPP project is to move forward, the state needs to look where the project will not be environmentally sensitive nor impair the vision of the county.

Counter Point:
(Addie Eckardt has her degree in nursing and Richey Colburn (we use to call this joke of a person “Lizard” in school) has a degree in…….NOTHING. Now there is the intellectual Algonquin Round Table to be making decisions on the subject.)

After lunch, the tour went south from Vienna, through Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and back to Cambridge. Local residents spoke during the tour about the impact the MAPP towers would have on the county landscape.
DCSE Chairman and local farmer Libby Nagel said in addition to the height of the towers, each would require about a 200-foot right-of-way. She said the MAPP towers would consume the county's landscape. "Once the land is gone, it is gone forever," Nagel said.

Counter Point:
(Again Libby Nagel is still touting this when she has been informed on this Jonathan Travers site where I have demonstrated many examples existing throughout Dorchester County where crops are grown right under existing transmission power lines. Now she is just knowingly propagating an inaccurate statement.)

To demonstrate the height of the towers, residents deployed balloons at a height of about 150 feet in fields to give a visual for those taking the tour.
Local farmer Lin Spicer said spraying crops would be ineffective with the power lines because planes would not be able to get below the lines.
"We would be forced to spray from above the towers and the wind would blow the spray all around before it reached the crops," Spicer said.

Counter Point:
(I am as much environmentally conscience as the next person and probably more so. With recent studies by genetic researchers that are now showing results that even what type of diets and much less the type of environmental exposure one’s grandparents had when they were children, are now showing mutations in the present day grandchildren. This not only applies to humans but for all organic life. An example of DDT spraying exposure to Grandmothers and increase of breast cancer risk to the Granddaughters. DDT nearly wiped out the Bald Eagle throughout the whole country. To be aerial spraying pesticides and herbicides in this sensitive area, and the dumping of raw animal waste on this high water table soils, is doing more long-term damage to this delicate eco system than a transmission line ever would. I find it quite hypocritical how those opposed to MAPP want to use the “I can’t farm by poisoning undesirable plants or insects,” as their arguments in this eco-sensitive area. You should be ashamed of yourself and try some introspection of your viewpoints.)

Spicer said irrigation systems would be limited on farms with towers. "Irrigation systems are set to pivot 360 degrees, but if a tower is in the way, it may only be able to pivot 180 degrees," Spicer said. "For a system that costs about $250,000 brand new, that cuts its use in half."
Blackwater Manager Susan Baird said the MAPP towers would have a great impact on wildlife and wetlands. She said bald eagles, which are prominent at Blackwater Refuge, need a living area of five miles. "They won't fly over the towers, so you can't tell me they or other birds will not move on to different locations outside of Dorchester County if the power lines are put here," Baird said.

Counter Point:
(Again where is your proof on this statement when you already have seven high voltage power lines running through this same area? Maybe your statement is based more on desire for it to be true than actual documented proof?)

Jay Meredith, who owns The Bucktown County Store, said the MAPP project will interfere with the proposed Harriet Tubman Historic National Park.
"It is awesome to have a Harriet Tubman National Park in Dorchester County," Meredith said. "That park and Blackwater will bring so much tourism to Dorchester County, but I'm sure the people coming here will not want to see 150-foot towers in the middle of a national park."

Counter Point:
(How is this different to the newly erected Cell Towers, existing transmission and distribution power lines in this same area? With this logic, you should be lobbying to dismantle this entire infrastructure so you too can have none of the modern communication aspects, electric for lights, cooking, refrigeration, and heat, etc. I bet you are not heating with wood this winter so you can return to the purest lifestyle that Harriet Tubman had. Again I find this another hypocritical statement.)