Editor,
Once again I am moved to write about the TC Energy Proposal. I am wondering where everyone is. The project fails in at least three key categories. It is not ‘green’, it is not economical and it does not produce one erg of NEW energy. New energy is what we need right now.
First it is not green. It will consume more than it produces. The argument of redistribution of unused power is a specious argument as Dr. Layman has pointed out. A quick analysis will show that to produce 4 MWH of energy it will consume in the order of 8 MWH. That number is a derived number working with some fairly generous estimates of the efficiency of the system. Both the pumping and the generation are mechanical processes for which I have postulated a 70% efficiency rating. In reality, most mechanical processes do not come close to that level. Indeed, the electric motors used to pump the water will generate a great deal of heat and the facility will therefor have a heat dissipation problem, usually solved with air conditioning or possibly by circulating local water in cooling jackets thus raising the ambient temperature of local water… i.e. more energy consumed to dissipate the heat which is lost energy. See where I am going with this?
Think about the economics of this idea. It will cost $11B to build and it will have a multi-million dollar operating budget. This TCE energy claims will be offset by taking energy from the grid at cheaper rates (pumping), and restoring it to the grid (generation) at higher rates giving a profit. (Incidentally has anyone asked, “A profit for whom?”) I am assuming that TC Energy will sell this operation to someone. To my mind, probably OPG! So, the investment and operation now fall on OPG and where does OPG get its money… oh wait, from us the consumer! So, let’s figure out some finances. We will ultimately pay for the construction and probably much more than the $11B cost… tidy profit for TC Energy. We will then pay for its operation. We will pay for the electricity in order to pump water up, and then we get 50¢ on the dollar for that pumped investment. To make money at all, the high rate for electricity would have to be several orders of magnitude greater than the low rate. That seems high? Ponder this, all that has been considered so far is the effect of the operational mechanical efficiency and that does not include the day-to-day other operational costs such as wages, the upkeep including climate control, office space and accessories and the concomitant energy needs, plus replacement and repair of the equipment. Oh, and no one seems to have mentioned transmission lines.
This operation will ultimately raise the price of electricity for everyone in the province. Where is the economy in that?
Where is the ground-swell of politicians fighting this project to protect their constituents? I have raised the topic with both our MPP and MP and have gotten not much more than a ‘ho-hum’! Our mayor seems entranced with the smoke and mirrors and fails to be able to apply logic and science. It seems to me we are being hoodwinked by experts in misdirection and deserted by our politicians. By the way, at two community meetings I have asked to speak with the TCE engineers to get real figures on the operation and… crickets!
Paul Wehrle Bsc, Meaford
