US-based Liberty Consulting is concerned about the “pace that NL Hydro is keeping” in addressing solutions towards what it calls a secure and affordable electric energy future – and is ending its consultancy role with the PUB.
Liberty Consulting has provided analysis and advice to the Public Utilities Board for years throughout the development of Muskrat Falls.
In a letter to the PUB, the President of the Liberty Consulting Group, John Antonuk, says Liberty is concerned about Hydro’s delay in making a key submission on supply alternatives and the decision to end its consultancy to the PUB is not because of its relationship with the Board for which he says they have the “highest regard.”
He assures that Liberty is prepared to continue to provide its services while the Board secures new consultants.
Antonuk says Liberty is particularly concerned with the “promptest possible, yet adequately informed decisions about adding gas turbine capacity” – something he calls “critical.” If proven feasible, he says the timing of installation could have the potential “to avoid hundreds of millions of dollars from extending Holyrood.”
He believes that would prove true “even if current federal thinking on decarbonization timelines holds, and requires shutdown well before such a source reaches the end of its normal operating life.”
