It’s too costly to push too fast on all-electric energy

This responds to the article “A spectrum of hydrogen production,” Jan. 22. The article translates a complex yet crucial climate change issue into a form understandable by all readers.

Importantly, those readers will influence future energy policy through the ballot box, including legislation restricting or prohibiting gas use or gas appliances such as stoves, water heaters, furnaces and fireplaces.

While yet unknown whether “green hydrogen” is compatible with gas distribution systems and under investigation, New York’s utility ratepayers might well hope so as otherwise the state’s politicians are headed fast down the path of rendering our transmission and distribution system obsolete. All energy consumers should be aware, if that happens, energy ratepayers will be responsible to reimburse National Grid’s investors for all unrecovered costs of the gas system. They will also pay to rebuild or upgrade the state’s electric grid to enable elected officials’ “electric-centric” future vision including electric vehicles and heat pumps for all.

Any stranded costs resulting from such radical change from historic state energy policy — and clearly not assignable to utility company malfeasance — will be fully borne by captive ratepayers. This is due to the way utility rates are calculated: Utility investors are entitled to receive a “fair return” on prudently invested capital.

The potential of “green hydrogen” must be fully explored and exploited, if not for its environmental implications but for destructive cost burdens and suffering that otherwise stands to be visited upon all fixed- and low-income consumers dependent on, and captive to, the state’s energy grid.

Christopher Corbett

Colonie The writer is an engineer who was employed in the Energy Division of the New York state Department of Public Service

from 1974 to 2006.