The Mactaquac hydroelectric dam 20 km upriver from Fredericton is a major source of electricity in New Brunswick. Although only halfway through its expected life, it requires major refurbishment. Is spending $8.9 billion to fix a 60-year-old power generation station really the best path forward?
NB Power must answer this important question soon. The utility’s decision will impact the future price of electricity and its ability to pay down its crushing debt.
Three considerations are how much electricity the dam generates, the maximum power it can produce, and how “dispatchable” it is. Power is dispatchable if it can be turned on, up, and down as needed.
Mactaquac is an important source of clean, renewable energy. The key question that will impact future energy costs is: how does the cost of refurbishment compare with building a new alternative source of renewable energy generation? An additional consideration: how many new jobs would the alternative create in New Brunswick?
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Tom McLean is a member of the Core Group of the Coalition of Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick (CRED NB) which is developing a strategy for affordable renewable electricity supply in New Brunswick.