tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post3728364710157203461..comments2023-10-25T07:29:40.789-02:30Comments on UNCLE GNARLEY: ENGINEER'S "OPEN LETTER" TELLS PREMIER GET ADVICE, RESET MUSKRATDes Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02566013585647491614noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-42784057606455479722016-05-23T15:29:29.644-02:302016-05-23T15:29:29.644-02:30And some still wonder why letters to the editor sh...And some still wonder why letters to the editor should have a signature attached. It has all the parameters of a death knell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-5351428737056161322016-05-18T15:25:40.978-02:302016-05-18T15:25:40.978-02:30I thought Muskrat Falls project was suspect from ...I thought Muskrat Falls project was suspect from the time that the then Premier Danny Williams quit. It has continued to deteriorate since its inception. What a waste of money! Is Churchill Falls even operating at maximal capacity yet?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-51392408157923120692016-04-30T06:48:25.012-02:302016-04-30T06:48:25.012-02:30Great article and right on the money. Cold eyes re...Great article and right on the money. Cold eyes review for this and also how we are spending tax payer money on government services.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14790670146773892727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-56062357542664970562016-04-24T21:54:56.551-02:302016-04-24T21:54:56.551-02:30This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06705840576465503698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-5817010119213103942016-04-24T11:43:23.122-02:302016-04-24T11:43:23.122-02:30From Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/research/...From Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=8092891&privcapId=875612 <br /><br />"He (Stan) is a Member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Marshall holds a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and Bachelor of Law at Dalhousie University."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-10180070855634011542016-04-23T11:48:37.570-02:302016-04-23T11:48:37.570-02:30Can some one help me out.... Stan Marshall, who is...Can some one help me out.... Stan Marshall, who is to sort out the Muskrat Mess, I have read or heard that he is both an engineer and a lawyer. If so, an electrical engineer?(given his experience in the power business). By his own words, in the Telegram, he pictures himself as a mafia don, like in the God father movie, retired, in his garden harvesting potatoes, instead of roses. A sense of humour , I trust, and not to be taken literally, o rmaybe so?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-17516042715294376732016-04-22T16:15:21.074-02:302016-04-22T16:15:21.074-02:30Maurice, I will forward my report filed with the P...Maurice, I will forward my report filed with the PUB ( will appear there later) on efficiency possibilities for demand reduction of 400 MW, and test results of mini-splits on housing : COP average 3 or better (66 percent reduction on heating) and peak demand half at -15C to -20C range (this testing at -8C and other by US Dept of Energy to -13F). Testing on 1 minute intervals and 1 hr average, switching from mini-split to bseboard heater, and can be monitored remotely, even watch energy consumption on smart phone as it changes). Sort of what Manitoba Hydro said the power companies needed to do, end-use research, but say they cannot afford to do it! Your charts imply demand reductions from meter readings,but are average, whereas these are minute by minute. Trust you will find them interesting, as well as the report itself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-61065895132439912082016-04-22T13:58:26.073-02:302016-04-22T13:58:26.073-02:30There will barely be enough power from Muskrat to ...There will barely be enough power from Muskrat to displace holyrood, let alone displace fossil-fuel generation anywhere else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-44234872209756433662016-04-22T13:55:48.499-02:302016-04-22T13:55:48.499-02:30You haven't been paying attention. The politic...You haven't been paying attention. The political culture of Newfoundland is rotten and corrupt, a fact that Danny Williams took advantage of during his time in office and something that Premier Ed Martin relied on during his reign as well. Snitches get (metaphorical) stitches. Traitors get blacklisted. Whistleblowers too.<br /><br />The place is rotten. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-54711463423638106242016-04-22T09:30:47.168-02:302016-04-22T09:30:47.168-02:30First - Brilliant article by this (smartly shroude...First - Brilliant article by this (smartly shrouded) professional.<br /><br />It should surprise NOBODY that this professional, (who is looking out for the safety and future of our fellow NL'ers and our children), has to hide his identity for doing so.<br /><br />Our Governments, (time and again, not just this one) get so caught up in pandering to their own pocketbooks and egos that we simply MUST change our system of governance. Nothing else has worked or ever will. <br /><br />You can fight human nature, but you will lose... and losing we are. <br /><br />Where there are opportunities to gain wealth without consequence they will do it, and are doing just that as we speak. Dwight has retirement housing, Cathy (while on the board) has/had interests in selling to Nalcor (in the tens of millions). There was Moores who (purportedly) filled his pockets and retired to Florida, Tulk with cheap/free farmland, Peckford with a sweet deal on cucumbers (for him), Williams with huge land grabs and oil/Muskrat gluttony.... we're doing the same thing over again ... Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over but expecting different results. If our water came from Flint Michigan I could understand it. Similar "leadership" there too. Pigs making money and screwing over their countrymen.<br /><br />In five + decades I've seen two individuals who seemed to have enough integrity to be Premier for the people's reasons... Joey Smallwood and Clyde Wells, (sorry for pairing you up this way Mr. Wells but there seems to be nobody else to put you with). The rest were either largely ineffective, (Tulk? Rideout? Davis? Tobin?), downright useless (Dunderdale?), or as corrupt as the money is deep, (you name the corrupt one/s, there are hungry, heinous lawyers out there just waiting for me to write that one here!!)<br /><br />Systemic change is the ONLY answer. If not... then what?<br /><br />This province is so completely mired in corruption that our own (oligarch) Finance Minister can't see past her own personal/government buisiness interests long enough to provide some respect/human decency to the low-income masses that voted her in. Many of whom earn squat and pay waaayy more than their fair share. (3-10 times what she pays on a percentage of income basis). Fair minded Minister? <br /><br />I don't know what it's going to take, (perhaps an assassination or two... or maybe just some (real) jail sentences, (not like the "time-out" in the countryside that convicted criminal Ed Byrne was forced to "endure"), to change the corrupt and pompous culture at the top of this pension factory we call government. <br /><br />If you're not wealthy or connected to the Illuminati culture you'll get nothing but another shower of urine from the eighth floor window, and when you publicly identify as speaking out, they'll add the solids and dump all over your family too, (be they disabled children/students or not). ... and yes they have stooped that low in my case. Thanks Minister Jackman (loser).<br /><br />Anyway.... YES keep your head down, but keep it out of your shady spot though. We'll need smart brains to help tear down the outhouse of corruption that was once a symbol of democracy. .... and yes there IS a huge stinking mess underneath, just like any other outhouse.<br /><br />More public stench (exposure) to come folks... stay tunedAnonymous citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01889984580697117149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-44127248944337901612016-04-22T08:42:43.031-02:302016-04-22T08:42:43.031-02:30Personally I would like to see some Investigative ...Personally I would like to see some Investigative Journalists such as Michael Harris writing about all this!Marmaladehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01651890655542192076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-90251320991439084072016-04-22T07:31:47.546-02:302016-04-22T07:31:47.546-02:30Ball has changed horses.
While Marshall has spok...Ball has changed horses. <br /><br />While Marshall has spoken of cost overruns, delays, etc. (all related to getting Muskrat "back on track"), he has said nothing about the water management agreement, methyl-mercury, the North Spur, etc. --- all show stoppers. <br /><br />Stan Marshall's job is to put Muskrat back on track. Maurice AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-48932485459745881642016-04-22T06:20:48.574-02:302016-04-22T06:20:48.574-02:30I sure hope the review will encompass all aspects ...I sure hope the review will encompass all aspects of the project. Especially where the contracts went and the shareholders of those contracts. When it was going beyond a reasonable over-run someone should have questioned the project. This Maritime link is questionable in being anywhere feasible. My humble option Gull Island should been done first with power going through Quebec. When politicians cannot get their own way and start something than leave it (Muskrat Falls project) should been stopped than. Sam Saunders Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14791920288680716734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-76641158216699500232016-04-22T00:35:38.674-02:302016-04-22T00:35:38.674-02:30I’ve been watching from afar and... what a conundr...I’ve been watching from afar and... what a conundrum! Time to reflect. Hydro Quebec is building the La Romaine complex, twice the size of Muskrat Falls a couple of hundred miles away. They have easy land access to all markets and they will produce electricity, some say for around 9 cents per Kwh which they will sell for 3 or 4 cents at the American border. Electricity sells in the US for what it costs to produce it with natural gas. To be competitive, the cost of producing hydro power 1,000 miles away from the market plus the cost of transport plus the line losses must be equal or less than the competition. Based on this fact, it is unrealistic to think that a project like MF can be viable unless you cook the books and depreciate the assets over an unrealistic period, forget to include maintenance and replacement costs, etc.<br /><br />I don’t have the numbers but I would assume that the cost to produce electricity at MF at the point of sale will be more expensive than La Romaine due to the complexity of the transportation, the inexperience of the team and the uncertainty of the North Spur soil conditions. <br /><br />In current economic terms, neither one of these projects is viable either in short or long term.<br /><br />With $6 Billion committed, and cancellation costs, it would now be completely ludicrous to cancel the project outright. <br /><br />Now here’s the good news: <br /><br />The US, Canada and 190+ other countries have made a commitment to cut greenhouse gasses A LOT by 2030 and nobody has any idea how to really do this. That’s where projects such as La Romaine and Muskrat Falls make a lot more sense. It appears that this time the Europeans are going to shame us into putting our promises into actions. Would this be a game changing opportunity? <br /><br />I would recommend that clear heads in Newfoundland sit down with clear heads in Quebec and the indigenous people of Labrador to come up with a much better game plan to produce and sell power in the US to replace all the power now produced by coal plants which will be forced to close in the next 10 to 15 years. 2030 is not that far away and the demand for “clean” power will skyrocket. Now is the time to ramp up Gull Island, optimize Churchill Falls and do whatever it takes between Quebec and Newfoundland to extract every possible kilowatt hour out of all the harnessable rivers in this corner of North America. Hydro Quebec has done a masterful job doing just that in James Bay. They haven’t developed a large scale project in 20 years. I am sure they would be glad to take the challenge to properly develop the Quebec and Labrador hydroelectric potential. Bond money can be raised at the lowest rates in 50 years. Now is the time to act.<br /><br />The local Indigenous people also have a lot to say in this. With this in mind, back in the 60’s, the Churchill Falls project was developed with very little input from them just as any other project in that time period. I’d say that they hold the key to renegotiate the Churchill Falls contract so they can get their fair and just compensation. They, after all are the owners of the land and the rivers, not Newfoundland and not Quebec. This is an undeniable fact. <br /><br />Now is the time to bury the damm hatchet between Newfoundland and Quebec. Newfoundland needs Quebec and Quebec needs Newfoundland. The US needs both partners to work together and the world needs clean power. I smell an opportunity….<br /><br />Pierre Lebel<br />Frederick, MDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-129022488839599742016-04-21T23:07:26.314-02:302016-04-21T23:07:26.314-02:30Not really surprised, and good to see you state it...Not really surprised, and good to see you state it. Nevertheless, a sad situation. Few are even willing to state their profession. <br />Winston AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-65879402957098921372016-04-21T20:32:26.537-02:302016-04-21T20:32:26.537-02:30As a citizen of NL and not a engineer the poster s...As a citizen of NL and not a engineer the poster sums up my concerns very well..I voted liberal in past election and feel if the government doesn't take this well written advise given by the way free of charge then we r surly in for failure as a province and failure as a democracy. Tks for the write upRay noseworthynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-11002152278725467302016-04-21T17:56:28.030-02:302016-04-21T17:56:28.030-02:30This sobering but deadly accurate.
When do we st...This sobering but deadly accurate. <br /><br />When do we stop pretending we live in a democracy and are instead under the thumb of our oligarchs? If academics and professionals cannot speak out are we resigned to subservience to egotistical, selfish, tyrants?<br /><br />Transparency is the only disinfectant. When will it be demanded by the MF victims?Bruno Marcocchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076165212559914463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-39650039824033809722016-04-21T16:46:11.080-02:302016-04-21T16:46:11.080-02:30I agree with the government employee. I am a gove...I agree with the government employee. I am a government employee also and I was at the rally today outside Confederation Bldg. I brought a copy of the petition to ban the levy back to work and was told to be very quiet about trying to get signatures so as not to let the "bosses" know. I thought this was a democracy and that the politicians worked for US. This is getting scary. BellaSuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03306434022703496297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-46118173062575935522016-04-21T16:41:35.418-02:302016-04-21T16:41:35.418-02:30That is a sad comment. This is not post-Soviet Rus...That is a sad comment. This is not post-Soviet Russia, it is Canada. Freedom of speech is a probably the most important freedom we have, the fundamental component of true democracy and the hallmark of civilized society. I hope someday that every Newfoundlander will be able to speak freely without fear of economic reprisals.<br /><br />John D PippyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03044966985727657714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-16962941647590311262016-04-21T15:39:29.244-02:302016-04-21T15:39:29.244-02:30Winston, I have a master in engineering and work f...Winston, I have a master in engineering and work for government. Including your name on anything that challenges the status quo or embarrasses powerful or politically connected individuals in Newfoundland can easily get you blacklisted or disciplined. Additionally, if your company gets engineering consulting business via ministerial appointments (they almost all do), it could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost consulting work. I fully expect that when a minister expresses his displeasure to the principal of an engineering firm about something an employee wrote, that engineer is in trouble. Likewise, government workers would be disciplined by HR for criticizing their employer and likely be denied future promotions. I would actually have been shocked if he/she had not been anonymous. Generally, only retired professionals can disturb the status quo in such a small place (e.g. Newfoundland and Labrador) without financial repercussions. It is unfortunate.<br /><br />University professors also have this problem. They can offer advice and secretly review things others publish, but cannot safely use their names unless they are tenured and even then it can be dangerous. I could give you many fascinating examples but can't identify others nor myself. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-57811349162600397942016-04-21T09:21:16.272-02:302016-04-21T09:21:16.272-02:30As an engineer, I read this letter with the greate...As an engineer, I read this letter with the greatest of interest and admiration, having been written by a professional engineer with obvious considerable experience, concern for the mismanagement of this project, love of this province,and very sound advise to our premier, who lacks understanding of engineering and project management.I have read this letter slowly and considered it a great summary of the frustration of what many, especially many engineers, must feel over the last few years. I felt this sort of letter from a professional engineer was long overdue. I was curious to see the name of this engineer, as I reached the end of this amazing overview of the mess of Muskrat Fall. And then my disappointment to see no name at the end. But why. Do we as a whole society live in a culture of fear of going public with candid views like this. Surely this writer should be applauded for such candid views. Was his letter send to the Premier without his name. This letter follows that of Mr Gordon, another professional engineer whose photo and name was part of the posting on this site. Nevertheless, a great letter by this engineer who remains unknown to the public. <br /><br />Winston Adams (Electrical engineer)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-52608934874301353172016-04-21T08:44:33.466-02:302016-04-21T08:44:33.466-02:30How I wish this Concerned Newfoundlander and Profe...How I wish this Concerned Newfoundlander and Professional Engineer had written this letter 4 or 5 years earlier. <br /><br />Danny's and Nalcor's flawed assumptions, Nalcor's deceptions, fabricated/non-transparent analyses, grossly overstated forecasts and benefits, etc., etc., etc. were first apparent as early as early 2011 (and since then I have written, if memory serves, about 30 or more articles/letters on almost every aspect of this fiasco). <br /><br />But better later than never. This letter was and is badly needed and outlines very well some of the ongoing concerns and offers some sound advice. However, it fails to acknowledge that 1) we don't need the power, 2) we can't afford the project, and 3) the project is too high a risk.<br /><br />In my view, the best 'reset' is to stop the whole project(and option 2? --- put the powerhouse, dams, etc on hold and focus on completing the transmission lines. Maurice Adams, Paradise<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com