Environmental impact of fossil fuel plants and what’s the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doing to protect the environment.
Research aims:
This proposed research attempts to achieve the following objectives:
1. To outline the development of fossil fuel as a source of energy in the Unite States
2. To identify the environmental effects of fossil fuel plants during its acquisition and operation
3. To determine the advantages and disadvantages of using fossil fuel energy
4. To evaluate the measures that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertakes in regulating fossil fuel plants in the context of preventing the environment
Research Questions:
This study attempts to answer the following questions:
Introduction There is a great understandable hunger for energy in the world. Increased uses of energy are strongly correlated with the gross domestic product, a measure of the average standard of living of the inhabitants of a country. But if the principal sources of energy are fossil fuels, a dilemma should be faced: burning these fuels contributes to the greenhouse effects and thus to the warming of the Earth, causing serious environmental consequences.
Fossil fuels are used to generate about 68% of the electricity in the United States; coal is used to generate about 44% of the electricity (Reitze, 2002). In 1998, electric utilities emitted 67.2% of the nation’s S[O.sub.2], 24.9% of N[O.sub.x], and about 10.6% of the small particulate (P[M.sub.10]) emissions, (Reitze, 2002). Moreover, sixty-seven hazardous air pollutants potentially are emitted from fossil-fueled electric power generating plants, and EPA predicts a 30% increase in these emissions by the year 2010.
In addition, about 40% of C[O.sub.2] from United States sources comes from electric power industry (utilities and nonutilities combined), and domestic C[O.sub.2] emissions increased by 2.5% in 2000, which is a significant increase from the 1.3% average annual growth from 1990 to 2000. The United States’s emissions of C[O.sub.2] are responsible for an estimated 25% of the world’s C[O.sub.2] emissions from fossil-fuel burning and cement manufacturing. Moreover, increases in generating capacity are projected to increase C[O.sub.2] from the electricity sector by 14 to 38% by 2007 from the 1998 level. In 1999, coal was used to generate 52.8% of the electricity generated in the United States; petroleum was used to produce 2.56%; and natural gas was used to produce 10.78% The use of natural gas is projected to increase, coal use will increase more slowly, and petroleum use is expected to continue to decrease. Most of the nation’s coal-burning plants were constructed between 1950 and 1980, and these plants are the nation’s most significant stationary source of air pollution. New electric power plants almost always use gas-fired turbines because such plants are less expensive to construct, have a higher thermal efficiency, and produce far less pollution. This offsets the need for gas, which is more expensive than coal.
While there are many forms of energy with which we are familiar–mechanical, chemical, nuclear, light, thermal energy, heat, to name a few–and there are many sources for all forms of energy, the inhabitants of our planet have found it convenient to exploit relatively few (Borowitz, 1999). The burning of the so-called fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) currently provide the United States with about 90 percent of the energy used (Borowitz, 1999). According to Borowitz (1999) these are finite resources and their use is environmentally harmful thus, the purpose of pressing for the ultimate replacement of fossil fuels in the economy is not only to improve the environment but to prepare for the time when these fuels become scarcer, and therefore more expensive, or have been depleted altogether.
Conceptual Framework
The study will evaluate qualitative factors that are relevant in the acceptability of the recommendation to be made.
The qualitative factors that will be evaluated in the study are the issues regarding the use of fossil fuel plant in the environment. Likewise, this study will also contemplate on the legal and the regulatory aspects of the existing environmental laws in the United States as well as the emerging programs to resolve the this crisis will also be considered.
DEPENDENT VARIABLES
Environmental impact of the
Use of
Fossil Fuel Plant as
Source of energy
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
Qualitative
- issues
- legal
– gov’t programs
Figure 4. Paradigm of the independent and dependent variables on the environmental impact of the use of Fossil Fuel Plants as energy source from the issues, legal and government programs.
Review of Related Literature
Fossil fuels are the remains of organic matter that, over hundreds of millions of years, have undergone substantial physical changes induced by pressure and chemical changes caused by the action of bacteria (Borowitz, 1999). The fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. They provide the United States with about 90 percent of the energy it uses (Borowitz, 1999). This energy was originally provided by the sun, which made it possible for the plants to grow.
McDonald (1979) examined the different kinds of environmental regulation of federal lessees in minerals production with a view to evaluating them as means of efficiently internalizing externalities. It will be sufficient to indicate the nature of such regulation if confined to outer continental shelf oil and gas regulations, coal regulations, and shale oil regulations. In general, environmental regulations for outer continental shelf oil and gas are designed to prevent the interchange of fluids between strata in the drilling, operation, or abandonment of wells, to prevent oil spills (McDonald, 1979).
McDonald (1979) suggested that in the production of minerals other than oil and gas profit-motivated behavior by competitive producers tends to assure the optimum rate of extraction; but in the case of oil and gas such behavior leads to an excessive investment in wells, too rapid an extraction of minerals, and too great a loss of ultimate recovery. Some form of regulation of the rate of oil and gas production is in the interest of society, not only from the point of view of conservation but also from the point of view of maximizing the capture of pure economic rent on publicly owned lands.
Environmental protection requirements imposed on fossil-fuel electric power generators by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are subject to ongoing review because this is the industry most responsible for conventional air pollutant emissions and is a significant source category of hazardous air pollutants (Reitze, 2002).
To comply with the SIP requirements, fossil-fuel electric power generating plants must meet the CAA requirements applicable to stationary sources, but due to the large portion of stationary source emissions attributable to the electric power industry, there are provisions in the CAA aimed primarily at this industry. Moreover, according to Reitze (2002) because of the size of most electric power plants, the more stringent requirements imposed on major sources usually are applicable. In addition, CAA subchapter IV imposes on the electric power industry an emission cap and trading system for and coal-fired utility units are subject to emission limitations for N[O.sub.x].
Unfortunately, these CAA programs are not: part of an overall strategy that encompasses both environmental and energy policy considerations (Reitze, 2002). According to Reitze (2002) the proposed four-pollutant bill, which includes controls on carbon dioxide emissions, does not appear to have given adequate consideration to either costs or its effect on the use of coal to generate electricity. The new source review program still has not developed a workable definition of “repair,” and the program to get old facilities to meet the emission standard of new sources is dependent on the vagaries of an enforcement program. Moreover, the Bush administration may terminate aggressive enforcement of the NSR program. Further, after more than thirty years of experience with the CAA, emissions standards are still based on the amount of fuel used rather than electricity generated, which gives a competitive advantage to dirty, inefficient coal-burning plants. Such an approach is in conflict with the recent efforts to control carbon dioxide emissions.
It is clear that decisions concerning the CAA will have major ramifications in determining how electricity will be generated in the coming years (Reitze, 2002). But, because of the lack of any overall energy or environmental policy, the decisions concerning how and where electricity is generated will be made by the utilities seeking to avoid risk and meet their obligations to shareholders (Reitze, 2002). A significant factor in the private sector’s decision-making process will be CAA requirements. At this time, the federal government has largely failed to develop an energy policy consistent with the need to protect air quality, and it has failed to develop CAA requirements that encourage efficient use of energy (Reitze, 2002).
It is now widely acknowledged that the depletion of geological stocks of fossil hydrocarbons will eventually force the global economy to shift to an alternative energy technology (England, 1994).This would be true even if the Earth were a solid piece of coal. Several transitional strategies have been proposed to facilitate the historic shift from fossil fuels to their eventual replacement(s). The World Resources Institute 11992, 22!, for example, emphasizes the immediate potential for increased energy efficiency. According to England (1994) these transitional strategies offers a permanent solution to emerging energy and environmental dilemmas. Investments in more energy-efficient artifacts would certainly help to lower the ratio of energy use to gross output for the economy as a whole. However, if the aggregate economy continued to rely primarily on oil, coal, and natural gas deposits for its energy inputs, then depletion of fossil fuels would continue, albeit at a less frantic pace. A shift to natural gas use from the other fossil fuels would certainly help to reduce current emissions of carbon and sulfur into the atmosphere but with the consequence of accelerated depletion of remaining natural gas deposits. Hence, neither strategy by itself could deliver from fossil fuel dependence in a sustainable manner.
As Cassedy and Grossman [1990, 213 cited in England 1994] point out, however, many alternative energy technologies are currently being considered. These include photovoltaics, cogeneration, superconducting electric transmission, nuclear fusion, and both uranium and thorium breeder reactors, to name just a few. Hence, there are a significant number of alternative technological trajectories that might be pursued as we prepare to exit the age of fossil fuels.
The crucial theoretical point is that this set of alternative energy technologies does not yet exist in final form, simply awaiting optimal technical choices by rational and informed investors (England, 1994). Rather, each technical option is currently in the midst of a sequence of stages of technological evolution, ranging from basic scientific research through widespread commercial adoption.
Methodology
This part will outline the methods to be used in gathering data: the respondents of the study, the sampling technique, the instrument to be used, the validation of the instrument, the administration of the instrument and the statistical treatment of the data that will be gathered, and how this data will be analyzed qualitatively.
Methods of Research
This proposed study will use the qualitative in the analysis of material from both in-depth interviews and group discussions. This approach suits well for the study, which involves summarizing and classifying data within a thematic framework. The purpose is to describe the situation as observed by the researcher.
The study will determine whether environmental impacts of the use fossil fuel as source of energy of the United States and evaluate the programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that can resolve environmental problems posed by this system.
The primary source of data would be a researcher-constructed questionnaire to be given to the assigned officials of the EPA, environmental analyst, and environmental action groups. Some key persons will also be interviewed to comment on the environmental impact of fossil fuel plants.
The secondary source of data would include articles from newspapers, studies from statistics from key government offices like the EPA and the Department of Energy, published articles from journals, theses and related studies on fossil plants and its effect on the environment.
Conclusion
This proposed study on the idea that the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, peat, petroleum, and natural gas have allowed human to develop many different technologies to improve life. The industrial revolution that changed the world was fuel by this resource. Today, fossil fuels power our cars, heat our homes, and run the factories that manufacture everything we use in our lives. However, recent science has suggested that the use of fossil fuels has damaged the environment, and many groups are pushing for cleaner forms of energy. The Middle East is a major producer of fossil fuels, while the industrialized nations in Europe and North.
We have become a very energy greedy generation and our demands for electricity are very high. As far as reducing these harmful affects, we must first reduce our demand. Science may be able to find alternative, healthier sources, although not ones that meet the required supply. These types of horrendous impacts are felt globally and should not be considered one countries problem. Sometimes social limitations and/or economic stability can make the process of change very difficult. One thing is for sure, that by being more energy efficient and conservative, we will be helping to alleviate the toll on environmental and human health.
References:
Borowitz, Sidney, Farewell Fossil Fuels: Reviewing America’s Energy Policy,
Plenum, 1999
England, Richard, Three reasons for investing now in fossil fuel conservation: technological lock-in, institutional inertia, and oil wars, Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 28, 1994
Heart, Jhoanna, (2000), Environmental Crisis: Coal-Use Management,
Jacques, Mark (2001), Vission 21 : A Review , CSUN
Mayer, Michael, (2000), Fossil Fuel Impact 2000 , Dean Unpublished manuscript. California State University, Northridge.
McDonald, Stephen, The Leasing of Federal Lands for Fossil Fuels Production, Resources for the Future, 1979
Reitze, Arnold, State and federal command-and-control regulation of emissions from fossil-fuel electric power generating plants, Environmental Law, Vol. 32, 2002
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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