I am writing to take issue with points raised by T.E. Bursey in his article to The
Telegram of July 15 (Muskrat Falls is the Right Project for N.L.). Mr. Bursey
seems to believe that Muskrat Falls will be the solution to the reliability
problems experienced during the past winter.
Nalcor has
posited that emergency power will be available from Nova Scotia in the event of
a disruption of Muskrat Falls power. We believe that a thermal plant at
Holyrood will continue to be needed and that emergency power from Nova Scotia
is unlikely to be available when we need it.
The PUB
inquiry, particularly phase II, will weigh the evidence on this point but we
question the premise that Muskrat power will be more reliable without continued
thermal backup on the Avalon.
Mr. Bursey
lists experts who provided "supportive reports and comments." Only
one of the listed reports was prepared by an independent group, namely the
joint federal provincial panel, which was anything but supportive.
