By Richard Strusowski
Richard Strusowski is a resident of Smyrna.
The following are my thoughts, questions, etc., on the freezes on Delmarva Power, and please know that I am no expert, so your corrections are welcome:
- If rates are frozen, how will Delmarva Power pay for increases for the cost of electricity? Will Delmarva Power lay off workers or not replace and/or repair the infrastructure to cover the rising costs? Would this lead to blackouts? I understand a lot of our electricity is purchased and transmitted from Virginia because our Delaware energy production is not keeping up with our energy needs, which leads me to my next thought.
- In Delaware, there have been shutdowns and the elimination of energy-producing coal-fired power plants, like Indian River and McKee Run. These plants, to my knowledge, were not the heavy polluters of the past but had scrubbers and strict Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The loss of these power-generating plants was to be made up by solar and wind power. A good idea, but so far, these supplemental power sources have not covered our energy requirements and are cost-prohibitive and high-maintenance versus other energy sources. Should we have kept these plants up and running until other Delaware sources were available to replace our energy needs? Was this Delmarva Power’s decision to shut down these plants?
- I have heard that New Jersey has invested in compact nuclear generation equipment. These compact units are safe and have renewable, reusable fuel rods, so no shipment or burial of radioactive materials are needed. These units, to my knowledge, are similar to what are used on nuclear submarines, so they are nothing extremely new, and the threat of being nuked by these units is not like what we had in the past, like the mess at Three Mile Island. It is the belief that these units will cover current and increasing demand in New Jersey. If true, perhaps our government could look into these units.
Based upon the above thinking, I’m not sure Delmarva Power is solely responsible for all these rate increases. Our government, over the years, has made our current energy decisions, right or wrong. Some decisions were based upon influential, well-meaning environmental groups, like the Sierra Club and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and rightfully so. Perhaps it’s time to rethink the current and future energy strategy here in our great state of Delaware.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
