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I’ve used that term in some carpentry work in the past, but hadn’t thought about it’s relation to dam reservoir levels. It seems Pakistan’s Tarbela dam is running at dead level, which means that the turbines are running off only the natural flow of the river and not on any added kinetic energy provided by a higher reservoir. Very inefficient.

-Tarbela dam powerhouse (credit Pakistan embassy, Washinton DC)

So, relate that to our ‘green’ power generators to the north. With record snowfall this year we should have no difficulties keeping the reservoirs at capacity for several years to come. Eventually however global warming’s effects will just as quickly take away what it currently provides, as seasonal precipitation becomes less and less predictable. Imagine several years of below average rainfall and snowfall in eastern Canada. Quebec’s cheap and clean power sources become less of both. Where do we get our power when in such a bind? I really don’t know. Ontario and the Atlantic provinces currently buy from us, as do several States to the south. Our wind resources are meager (yet increasing) and we have only one ‘working’ nuclear plant.

How about organic waste plasma-gasification plants? Kind of a win-win situation. Organic waste in, power out. Montreal needs a serious dose of change. Alan DeSousa is letting us all down by continually dragging his feet on serious issues which are all coming to head. If the fine people of Terrebonne stop the expansion of their current landfill, we’re screwed. Shut it DOWN!  It’s not like this whole situation just crept up on city hall…  head’s up Alan, two other landfills that take about 30% of our crap will be full in two years.   Do Something.

- organic waste pickup

- charge people for official trashbags

- pickup only once a week

- expand recycling efforts across the island

- force grocery and department stores to reduce packaging on all goods

- oh, and drop the plastic bag man! :)

Tags:   Climate Crisis · Hydro · Renewable EnergyNo Comments