Impacts of lignite development in Texas: an environmental primer
Coal and lignite supplied over one-fifth of electrical generation in Texas in 1981. Within the next decade, this proportion will rise to one-third of the State's power, with an increasing portion of the mineral reserves being mined within the State. Mining of coal and lignite will bring new opportunities as well as challenges to Texas and to communities near mining and power generation projects. In addition to the social and economic impacts this development will bring, the mining of these energy resources also has the potential to affect the environment in many ways. Because the extraction of lignite and coal in Texas is generally accomplished through surface mining, there are potential environmental impacts on water resources, wildlife, vegetation, air quality, geology and other resource units. Many of the potentially negative impacts can be prevented or mitigated through procedures required by state and federal legislation. Other lignite and coal development effects are positive. Relatively low cost lignite can contribute to lower energy bills, and the substitution of lignite for western coal represents a substantial stimulus to the state's economy. At the community level, mining and power plant development brings jobs, a stimulus to local businesses, and the potential for growth in the tax base. Rapid growth can also create problems for small communities, of course, particularly in the early construction phases of the projects. This report concentrates on the potential impacts of lignite development, since in Texas, mineral reserves of lignite are much more abundant than those of bituminous coal.
- Research Organization:
- Espey, Huston and Associates, Inc., Austin, TX (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5454810
- Report Number(s):
- TENRAC/EDF-091; ON: DE84900409
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
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294001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL MINES
COAL MINING
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DATA
ECONOMIC IMPACT
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FEDERAL REGION VI
FORECASTING
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FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
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LAND RECLAMATION
LIGNITE
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