Re: “Consider Europe’s green-energy experience,” column, Nov. 10.
Lawrie McFarlane’s column looks at this experience with figures and decisions by governments and electorates. One great maxim is that hydro power provides the grids what they require 24 hours a day, year-round, which is not the case with wind and solar.
Germany and the U.K. committed to subsidize wind and solar in order to keep electricity prices down, but these subsidies became unsustainable, and investments will shrink. In the recent past, letter writers have pointed out that hydroelectric installations have, with reasonable maintenance, a long life span, so that high construction costs give return for many decades of cheap power. These same letter writers have also noted that wind and solar have a markedly shorter life span, after which new investments in new equipment have to be made, again and again, so that what appears to be lower costs have to be repeated over time, and thereby multiplied.
Add to this discussion that oil- and diesel-using transportation will sooner than later be electric, and thereby will increase demand for electricity tremendously.
McFarlane’s commentary, and the other facts, should guide premier John Horgan to an easier choice in the Peace River, considering the alternatives.
Axel Brock-Miller
Langford
