1.  The reserve plant seems oversized.

2. This is a real issue -- which is storage for intermittency. Looks like the expansion was not well integrated with the reality that wind is not 24/7, 350 days / year (all systems go down for maintenance). Nor is wind 100% predictable. Thus, need backup/complementary/storage systems.  Seems like they did not do an integrated development.

3. There are many current options for storage, but few (other than hydro) are really that great on large scale. This is an arena meriting research, development, testing, further investigation.

4. There's a good chance (cross our fingers) that this natural gas plant will be an albatross a few years from now, as other storage/such paths are developed such that it is no longer required and the rising costs of post-peak NG make it the highest cost electricity.  Problem is: ratepayers will be stuck with paying for it, which reduces resources available for pursuing GHG-free options.

The idea was to have a readily stored renewable power source that can be brought online to fill in for lulls in renewable power sources with variable availability.


I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.