Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
People in the ishing industry are concerned about the effect of dams and other water
power projects on ish.
Another concern is pollution. Many of the buoys and other
devices used to generate wave power contain liquid chemicals.
Some scientists fear these chemicals could leak and kill life in
the oceans. The equipment used to generate electricity also
makes noise. Scientists wonder if the noise might scare ish
looking for food and upset their usual patterns.
Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems—which
are expensive to build and maintain—might have their own
problems. Using warm ocean water to create electricity removes
heat from the water. This could harm plants and animals that
need the warmth to survive. It could also affect plants and
animals that live in the cold waters below.
