economics of terrestrial peaking plants. The use of the SPS reduces the magnitude of the peak demand for conventional generation capacity in each pool by only 2% but reduces the duration of this peak significantly. The effect would be to change the optimum mix (base, cycling and peaking capacity) of generation equipment in the pools. Further study of this issue is required before any further conclusions can be reached. 4. Ownership of the SPS and Its Effect on SPS Usage and Utility Costs Of the three ownership and energy marketing alternatives considered, the most promising appears to be ownership of SPS by an independent corporation, not the operating utility, and the sale of energy generated by the SPS under long-term contracts. 5. Utility Sharing of SPS related RD&D Costs A review of the electric utilities' financial commitment to EPRI indicates that, given the most optimistic assumptions about the desire of the utilities to support SPS related RD&D, the utilities will be unable to contribute any more than 10% of the required $44 billion. Present utility and EPRI RD&D funding priorities indicate that the electric utilities will be unwilling to contribute as much as 1% of the SPS's development costs. 6. Utility Liability for SPS Related Hazards At present, the magnitude and geographic limits of the potential hazards are poorly defined. No utility can afford to assume the legal liabilities which might be associated with these risks.
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