Kalistani Major History

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KALNAPECO Begins Scouting Hydroelectric locations
KALENCON to be fully reorganized
Neveras City, Duchy of Neveras
April 15, 5501


Wilderness sites like Marshall River in Neveras could serve as powerhouse for Kalistan

In light of the massive fraud uncovered at KALENCON two months ago, engineers at KALNAPECO have been ordered to scour the country for potential new hydroelectric sites. This represents the first significant statement about the way that the Kalistani National Energy Sector intends to address energy shortfalls following the end of the fusion reactor project, and is a significant shift from the earlier statements regarding the readoption of oil and natural gas as energy sources. More than twenty potential locations have been identified across both Grand Duchies, primarily in Neveras, Vrassa and Ananto, which will be evaluated as sites for future high dams capable of generating enough energy to replace the the failed fusion reactor program.

"We're looking at about a four year environmental impact study," said KPO spokesperson Sam Waltrip. "The environmental impact study will consider impacts to dams on local and migratory fish and wildlife species, geological hydrology, impacts on local communities, agriculture, transportation, and vegetation diversity. We want to make sure that negative impacts to local species of plant and animal are limited, and that people in the areas can gain both economic and social benefits from capital construction."

Waltrip says that KPO wants to build between five and seven new high dams. "Each dam will create between 850 and 1700 Megawatts per hour, depending on its site," said Waltrip. "This should create a total of about 12.6 gigawatts of energy per hour in Kalistan, which will represent about 30 percent of our annual domestic needs. If we can't use fusion reactors, hydroelectric will provide a suitable alternative." KPO is also considering expanding geothermal energy generation in Ananto, where fewer dam projects will be built. "We still have to consider additional solar and wind plants as well."

The dam building project will begin following the completion of the environmental impact studies, and will likely last over the next twenty years. Meanwhile, KALNAPECO intends to acquire the remaining parts of KALENCON and reorganize the consortium. "The rot in that organization ran from top to bottom," said Waltrip. "The Board at KPO has expressed an interest in a full reorganization of the consortium. The Government is interested in starting the Consortium from scratch, as a fully nationalized energy company that is completely capitalized. When it is reorganized, KPO will divest the assets and KNC will operate electric production while KPO will go back to petroleum and biodiesels and plastics. More oil is not a solution, and in the meanwhile, we're just going to have to make due with small scale electric production while the major infrastructure slowly comes back online."

As consumers struggle to adjust to power shortages, KPO is looking for energy suppliers. "We are looking at possibly buying electricity from Lodamun and Baltusia, if it is available," said Waltrip. "Building power supply lines to Lodamun and Baltusia will be relatively inexpensive, but this alternative is only a short term solution, and then only for Vrassa and Suldanor. Odufaray, Neveras, and Ananto will need to quickly begin small scale and local power generation." Already, local windmill and solar plants that can add wattage to city blocks are being constructed in cities and on buildings, and photovoltaic production has ramped up in Sulari."

This is the start of a long process that will last well into the next reign. "KPO is confident that the Crown Princess will support our efforts after taking the throne in July," said Waltrip. "She is an engineer at heart, and has already met with high level planners as we shift gears, and wants to be constantly apprised as to the situation."