Back in the late summer of 2003, this part of Ontario, as well as a good portion of the northeast United States, fell into darkness.
In recognition of that occasion, Centre Wellington Hydro is hosting a Blackout Day on the date of this publication, hoping to remind people that saving energy is in all of our interests.
Six years have passed with little change.
The incredible thunderstorms of this past weekend offered a little reminder for many of our readers what it is like to have the power go out. For ourselves, it meant getting out candles, calming the kids and going to bed early.
Within a few short hours the power was back on and in the morning the candles were put away for another time. It was an inconvenience, however brief.
Most of us recognize the extent to which convenience factors into our lives. Gadgetry needs electricity – so from the moment we wake until we go to sleep, we are consuming power of one sort or another. Industry cannot run without power, either. It is up to each of us and the places we work to dial down our use, but really, how much dialing down are we prepared to do?
Conservation is always in order – but it is not the complete answer. In the longer term, electricity will become even more important in the future than it is today.
The use of fossil fuels and natural gas to create electricity is arguably unsustainable and the true financial implications of that power source remain nebulous. So, what next?
We also recall that it was that fall of 2003 when the Dalton McGuinty Liberals came to power promising to eliminate coal reactors and focus on new initiatives to provide electricity. We have seen windpower implemented across the province.
The massive turbines can be seen for miles – as living proof something is happening. We question their effectiveness and the residents near to them question their effects on health. While not an expert on either issue, it does not strike us as a panacea for the future.
Solar is another option we hear about but it too has shown mixed results. There certainly are enough roofs across the land to collect solar power, but the issue becomes storage capacity and whether or not the roof provides optimum exposure to really make it work.
Acquaintances and friends in that business have expressed frustration that solar power remains very difficult to make affordable and efficient on a mass scale. With the aid of more research, an answer should be forthcoming, but again, the urgency for answers seems to wax and wane with commodity prices.
A recurring debate happens on the question of nuclear power and power generated from burning garbage. We would like to see that debate start in earnest, offering long term solutions to the province’s power needs, since a decision today will take many years to implement anyway.
The blackout in 2003 was a gigantic warning that this important infrastructure needs attention.
It would appear we have forgotten how serious it is until the time comes when the lights go out.
