MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 25, 2021
There is a continuing debate over the new transmission line running through Maine that will bring electricity into New England from Hydro Quebec. As we undergo an inevitable transition from fossil fuel-based energy to reduced-carbon energy sources, we need to consider two important aspects: availability and risk. First, we can never have too much electric power, and we face the prospect of increasing demand in the future. Second, daytime solar power and weather-dependent wind power cannot cover 24/7 electric power needs adequately. The solar panels and windmills will pose an additional risk, because they are necessarily exposed to the weather. The switch to electric power is inevitable, but if we want to improve the chances of success in this transition, building the new power line from Hydro Quebec is an investment we need to make. ~ Peter Konieczko, Scarborough