Quote:
Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay
If I'm not mistaken, our LRT system is 100% green, running off windturbines from the Crowsnest Pass.
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Sort of true. The city signed a contract with Enmax (who they own BTW) saying that they would pay a minimum amount (I think around $0.08/kWh) for power requirements on the C-train. This in turn allows Enmax to finance the entire operation because they have a customer guaranteeing that they will pay a set minimum amount for power. It must be nice to essentially sign a contract with yourself, paid for by your citizens!!! Anyways...
There is no power line that runs from the LRT to Cowley. If there was, the Ctrain would only run when the turbines were turning (I believe the up-time in that area is 38%). It would be kind of hard to explain to commuters that they can't take the LRT to work today because it's not windy enough to turn the generators.
Essentially, all that the contract with themselves did was allow for the financing of the wind farm. They still get their power from the Balancing Pool, the same as everyone else (household and business) in the province.