Is all electricity created equal? MW vs. MWh
There is a disconnect in the public discourse on electric generation in Michigan. It revolves around the confusion caused by such terms as “capacity”, “availability”, “energy”, “reliability”, “intermittent”, “firm”, “spot market”, “backup”, “baseload”, “efficiency” and other energy jargon. Energy policy cannot afford loose talk or loose thinking. The call for energy efficiency and alternative energy requires a better understanding of all these concepts. At the most basic level the public (and its leaders) needs to know that a comprehensive energy policy requires significant baseload capacity (MW) so that alternative energy as we currently know it (MWh) can successfully contribute to energy security for citizens and businesses. With an aging fleet of coal burning power plants, a manufacturing based economy, and a history of environmental protection Michigan needs the collective wisdom of economists, engineers, environmentalists, industry, business and politicians to achieve reliable and affordable power and a balanced energy portfolio (and capacity portfolio) of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and replacement baseload generation.
