How can the project be considered clean or non-carbon when it uses excess electric capacity?
In the case of Symbiotics’ projects in Utah, CLPS replaces needed on-peak energy that would otherwise be provided by additional carbon-based generation. Almost 90 percent of Utah’s electricity comes from coal-fired power plants. Pumped storage projects eliminate the need to create new greenhouse gas-emitting sources of on-peak energy in the region. On-peak energy is electricity that is generated and sold during the high demand hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. On-peak hours are when residential and commercial demands compete directly with industrial demand and utilities become short on generation capacity. By effectively and efficiently shifting current production to meet demand, these projects will help avoid the increase of regional power generation that relies on fossil fuels and emits greenhouse gases. In addition, CLPS increases the value and growth potential of intermittent forms of renewable energy including wind, solar, and geotherma
