At the request of the Trustee Buildings and Properties Committee's subcommittee on Lake Source Cooling, a worldwide engineering consultant was retained to review engineering, constructability, cost estimates, fiscal probability analysis, and the overall decision process that led to Cornell's adoption of LSC as its best alternative.
The consultant reviewed the work and conclusions of Cornell engineers and consultants, and checked the data they generated. Their recommendations were incorporated into the project plans.
Future electric power rates are a critical element of the economic analysis. Savings in electricity costs are expected to offset a higher initial investment. World-renowned experts in electric power reviewed the consultants' reports, and agreed that Cornell's forecast of future power costs seemed reasonable for the coming deregulated environment. This projection was derived from economic forecasts and surveys of numerous regulatory and power-industry sources.
