tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post1288371781911009858..comments2024-03-07T02:00:01.582-05:00Comments on NEI Nuclear Notes: Jon Wellinghoff Light and DarkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-46515112999282782072009-05-19T22:41:46.354-04:002009-05-19T22:41:46.354-04:00THe point is that Mr. Wellinghoff has no idea what...THe point is that Mr. Wellinghoff has no idea what he speaks about, and what he is charged with directing. <br /><br />Electricity distribution grid requires the frequency to be kept constant, thus electricity in has to be equal consumption at all times. The only way we figured out as of yet is to have a strong "baseload" component with enough inertia in turbines and generators to absorb quick changes, and ~20% additional capacity in spinning reserves, which can be quickly ramped up if needed.<br /><br />Mr Wellinghoff seems to demonstrate lack of technical insight into reality of what he should be responsible for, arguing instead about plausibility of some fairy tales scenarios. <br /><br />I would not be surprised if his next suggestion was a DC system which has no frequency to worry about in the first place.anony-Mousenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10911751.post-64089456470181402882009-05-19T20:04:32.837-04:002009-05-19T20:04:32.837-04:00Hmm ... it seems to me that this "new paradigm" th...Hmm ... it seems to me that this "new paradigm" that Wellinghoff talks about is old news. It has been tried before.<br /><br />It has been tried in California, where they have exported much of their heavy industry, they have refused to build new "traditional" baseload plants (i.e., coal and nuclear -- although they are not to pure as to refuse to import increasing amounts of coal- and nuclear-generated electricity from across the border), and they have heavily emphasized efficiency, conservation, and electricity generation from renewables and <EM>natural gas.</EM> Today, California is a poster child for how <STRONG>not</STRONG> to run an economy. After they were so brutally abused by Enron less than ten years ago, how can anyone take California's energy policies seriously?<br /><br />It has been tried in Germany, where they have been actively encouraging renewable energy via feed-in tariffs (an example of "what the markets will do" when the playing field is not level because of government fiat). The result? Earlier this year, the German environmental minister was on record saying that Germany needs to build <EM>at least</EM> <STRONG>eight</STRONG> new very large coal plants. They need new power, and they need "baseload" power, in spite of the contributions of conservation, renewables, distributed energy, and all of the other government-mandated energy "solutions" that they have tried.<br /><br />Based on experience, I'd say that Wellinghoff's "new paradigm" is dead on arrival, and it is a dangerous "paradigm" unless your purpose is to either wreck the economy or enrich the coal and natural gas producers (as part of the processes of directing much less money to the renewable energy lobby). In any case, "rational" is not a word that I would choose to describe this scheme.<br /><br />My question is this: when is the Obama administration finally going to rein in this guy? He's obviously out of touch with reality and is beginning to become an embarrassment to the administration.Brian Mayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13962229896535398120noreply@blogger.com