This creates a challenge for the utilities that produce our electricity. This also creates a serious challenge for the public. The challenge will not be resolved in some faraway place. Northwest residents will resolve it close to home, in places like Rathdrum, Idaho. There, neighbors right now are discussing a proposal by Avista Utilities to modify an existing natural gas turbine plant, in a way that will boost its electrical generating capacity.
Turbines have to be built near gas pipelines with adequate capacity.
Wherever that turns out to be, someone will wind up being a neighbor and will feel tempted to reach for the well-developed tools of protest and litigation. If new generating capacity is simply stymied, we hurt our own communities. What we need is perspective and a constructive, problem-solving ethic. These firms consume large quantities of power. In other words, we have grown, we will grow and yet we have not constructed adequate electrical generating capacity.