Air quality impacts from future electric power generation in Texas
Studies have been conducted concerning future impacts on air quality of alternative scenarios for electric power generation using western coal, Texas lignite, fuel oil, and nuclear power between 1976 and 2000. Minimal increases in emissions of conventional air pollutants would result from extensive nuclear power development. Extensive lignite development would result in increased sulfur oxides emissions of 470% to 2460% above present levels by the year 2000 as compared to 420% for western coal. Major use of low-sulfur western coal would result in increased nitrogen oxides emissions of 100% to 150% by 2000 as compared to 30% to 60% for major use of Texas lignite. Increased air pollutant emissions would be less for extensive oil use as compared to use of coal or lignite but the potential health effects could be most severe because of the proximity to metropolitan areas. Extensive lignite use would act to aggravate acid rainfall formation in northeast Texas and Arkansas. Major constraints to power plant siting would occur with respect to secondary ambient particulate matter standards because of the generally high natural background dust levels in many areas of Texas. Photochemical air pollution would tend to be aggravated in adjacent downwind urban areas. Increased agricultural crop damage would occur for coal-fired plants at coastal sites. Radiation releases of noble gases would be greatest from nuclear power plants, expecially if reprocessing facilities were constructed in Texas. Substantial increases in radioactive particulate releases could occur with extensive south Texas lignite development to a level equivalent to nuclear power unless suitable control technologies were utilized.
- OSTI ID:
- 5822904
- Journal Information:
- AIChE Symp. Ser.; (United States), Journal Name: AIChE Symp. Ser.; (United States) Vol. 75:188; ISSN ACSSC
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
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& Safety
500600* -- Environment
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
AIR QUALITY
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
ELECTRIC POWER
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUIDS
FUEL CYCLE
GASES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PLANNING
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POWER
POWER GENERATION
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RAIN
RARE GASES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TEXAS
USA
WASTES