Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
proponents of nuclear energy, the NRC in 2008 delayed approval indefi -
nitely on all plants under construction because of needed design changes.
Nuclear energy currently generates about 100 billion watts of electric-
ity,
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9 percent of America's energy needs and 20 percent of our electric-
ity. These percentages have varied little since 1988 despite a continual
increase in the amount of energy used. Vermont, New Jersey, Illinois,
New Hampshire, and South Carolina rely on nuclear energy for more
than half of their electricity.
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The possible increase in the number of nuclear-fi red power plants is
as controversial as the possible construction of additional coal-fi red
power plants. Some people believe there is no other choice if the United
States intends to continue its economic development. However, the envi-
ronmental consequences of burning coal are well known and understood,
and no group in the United States other than the coal industry is enthu-
siastic about building more coal-fi red plants. In contrast, the social,
economic, political, and environmental consequences of nuclear power
plants are less well defi ned, and the issues are more complex. They are
discussed in some detail in the next chapter.
Energy from the Earth's Interior: Heat beneath Our Feet
Nuclear power plants are designed to boil water to drive steam turbines
without producing massive amounts of pollutants. However, these plants
are superfl uous. The earth comes to us with a safe and clean nuclear
power plant built in that can provide all of the energy we need.
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Almost
all of the earth's volume, 99.9 percent, is hot enough to boil water. We
might skip all the effort involved in the generation of nuclear energy and
replace it with energy from the hot rocks under our feet. This is what
hydrothermal geothermal energy is about. Currently geothermal plants
produce just over 3,000 megawatts of electricity, compared to 9,183
megawatts of solar power and 28,200 megawatts of installed wind
capacity. In 2009 six new geothermal plants came online, generating a
6 percent growth in geothermal power capacity, 91 percent of it in Cali-
fornia and Nevada. Another 188 plants were under development, and
the outlook is for even stronger growth in this industry.
In October 2009, the Department of Energy awarded $338 million in
stimulus funding to geothermal energy research and development proj-
ects, the largest injection into new geothermal technology development
in more than twenty-fi ve years. The funds will support 123 projects in
thirty-nine states.
