The Clean Energy Debate: Hydro Out
June 9, 2009 · By Shane Edwards
To continue the discussion with our exteemed commenters about the problem with electric cars, where is the power going to come from?
Hydro, as I said, is out. There may be dams going into Quebec, but it won’t be long before the eco-nuts spread their tentacles out in la belle province.
News in BC is not only are dams horrific for the environment (at least the construction of them), but even when we don’t flood entire valleys, and try to minimize disruption to spawning and river life, it’s all simply wrong.
Sitting here in Vancouver, where the eco-nuts protest every time anything nuclear is mentioned, and bad press floods the newspapers every time anything proposed by BC Hydro or any private company threatens to be built where a tree must be felled, that doesn’t leave us with a lot of options.
Again, we won’t actually need that much extra generating capacity. Most of the demand for electric cars will come off-peak, and thus existing generating capacity will be able to handle it.
Currently, we turn off generating capacity when it is unused. Since it’s difficult and expensive to turn a nuclear reactor on/off, power authorities typically control other generating stations, particularly hydroelectric. It’s easy to remotely raise a dam on hydroelectric stations.
Most of the extra energy needed will likely come from existing installations. For extra capacity, in Ontario we’re already committed to building new nuclear power stations, and there is significant wind power generating capacity being installed across the country.
Don’t you know by now that the econuts don’t want anyone on this planet…..I don’t know where they plan on parking their duffs but mine is staying put here. Their cause has all to do with money, pay enough into their bafflegarb to make you feel good and line the coffers of their project so they in turn can pay someone to go a protest elsewhere. Did you ever wonder why these protesters don’t work….because protesting is their job and they get paid to do so
Have some more Kool-aid, Richard.
This may be a legitimate debate in Southern Ontario and B.C., but here in the west electric cars are a non starter unless someone comes up with a battery system that is a lot more effective than what is now available. At -40 you’ll be lucky to get enough life out of your battery to drive to the end of your block. That is, of course, unless you want to add to the consumption of fossil fuels by keeping your garage (if you have one) nice and toasty all winter long.
Remember, Shane, humans are a blight on the planet. Making life as miserable as possible for people who don’t ascribe to a green mentality is always justifiable.
Powell,
That’s why I like the Volt E-REV design. There is an internal combustion engine included that is automatically used to run the car when the battery is empty or too cold. The heat from the engine is used to warm the battery, and when it’s warm enough, the car will simply cut out the engine and run on battery power. Once warmed, the batteries warm themselves through use.
Hydro electricity is actually a good part of the national identity in Quebec. Nationalising Hydro electricity was a huge part of the quiet revolution and was headed up by the boogy man himself -Rene Levesque.
To go against Hydro Quebec in Quebec would be like going against the Quebecois identity. The eco-nuts have nothing on nationalist nuts in Quebec so your fears are unfounded about Quebec electricity.