Applications of Improved Techniques to the Evaluation of Electric Energy Alternatives for New York State

This paper describes the applications of improved techniques to the evaluation of electric energy alternatives available to New York State. Features of these improved techniques include a linear programming calculation of optimal policy and health-social-environmental implications on a high performance computational system utilizing three computers to provide the user with an interactive graphic interface, fast turnaround, and low computational cost. These techniques have been applied to the evaluations of fifteen categories of contemporary New York State electric generation policy questions. The linear programming method simultaneously optimizes generation expansion decisions and operating strategy over the full duration of the planning period. The interactive graphics is programmed to provide inexperienced and experienced users with a flexible and easy to follow set of instructions for formulating the input forecasts and constraints for a case study and an excellent basis for interpreting the resulting strategy and implications.