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Recent Energy Issues |
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Rise in world energy needs January 11/2003 The world 's energy needs are rising far faster than we can bring emission-free generation such as nuclear and wind power on stream. Global power consumption for electricity, transport, heat and industry is now about 12 trillion watts, 85 per cent of which comes from fossil fuels. To stabilize the climate, the energy analysts estimate that the world will have to bump up emission-free power generation from today 's 2 trillion watts to as much as 30 trillion watts by 2050.
Choose Power Sources Wisely January 9/2003 Vancouver's Problem is how best to provide the island with a cost-efficient and reliable electricity supply that will serve the ratepayers well for many years. Vancouver Island needs both firm and non-firm (secondary) power. Firm power, as the name implies, is defined as power that is available as and when required. It is usually produced by large hydro facilities with adequate reservoir capacity, fossil fuel-fired (coal and natural gas) or nuclear generation. Non-firm secondary power is regarded as electricity whose production cannot be guaranteed at all times. Solar, wind, tidal and run-of-river hydro fall into this category. The Island can secure its firm power requirements either by building generation plants on the Island or by increasing the transmission system capacity between the Island and the mainland. While the ultimate results may not please everyone, at least there is a structure within which dissent can be expressed in a constructive manner. Hopefully out of such a review would come a well-thought-out scheme that over the long run would benefit all Islanders. G.W. Clayton, North Saanich.
There are many Energy Issues that are going on all the time throughout Canada. North America is dependent on energy. If energy were to fail, the whole country would fall. One energy issue is the brown-outs in Grimsby. There is not enough power that is being generated in the Golden Horseshoe to accomadate for all the new people and houses that are moving in. Another issue is that the Ontario Government no longer owns the power companies. People now buy power from a company. This could be kind of tricky because the prices of electricity could fluctuate from year to year. The government is trying to ensure that the energy companies do not raise the costs of heating and electricity.
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