Dear Editor,
Is the hydro-pump storage “Green as Kermit the Frog Sitting on Dr. David Suzuki’s Lap?” Bruce Mason’s letter to the Editor on December 16, 2021, and I share a passion for the same Pump-storage project.
I agree that we need green projects and steer away from fossil fuels in the future. I agree with the engineering designs to store unused electricity and balance the electricity grid. Storage is one critical system that engineers have overlooked in the past, and who can blame them when blessed with a land of plenty.
The existing power generation plants were not outfitted with storage systems to capture unused electricity in low demand and release it when demand is high. Unfortunately, the same engineering oversight occurred in solar and wind power generation design and construction. As a result, the excess electricity produced during gusty winds or long summer days is wasted because demand doesn’t exist. The wind blows, and the sun shines bright at any time, not when electricity demand is high.
Yes, it is about time that electric storage systems are developed to satisfy demand. The entire world is working hard to build power storage systems for the historical load balancing design flaws. Australia uses an abandoned gold mine for Hydro Pump storage. Construction of the Kidston Pump Storage Hydro project started in May 2021. However, the rest of the world is using batteries, as reported by https://www.energy-storage.news. Korea, Namibia, UK, France, Mozambique, Netherlands, Taiwan and many others. There must be some convincing engineering financial return on investment to justify using “big … BATTERY.”
Power storage in whatever form should have been deployed in the early days of power generation over 100 years ago. Now it has become an urgent need. However, where is the justification for destroying an irreplaceable resource like Georgian Bay for $250 million per year? I have not seen it from TC Energy. Perhaps Mr. Mason can publish it.
We are blessed with Georgian Bay, a pristine natural resource. But, unfortunately, the natural environment has been decimated with mega-sized engineering projects altering the natural environment worldwide. Canadian engineers owe it to our children and grandchildren to do everything in their power to preserve marginalized natural resources.
By the way, Mr. Mason, it is common knowledge that frogs are disappearing and are now listed among the 100 most endangered species.
Pat Zita, Meaford
