Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Mid-Century (2040-2059 average)
USGCRP
Temperature
Increase
Figure 7
In 2009, 80% of US ethanol
came from seven states potentially
subject to temperature and precipitation
changes
-2050
12°F
10°
8°
6°
4°
2°
0°
Iowa
Illinois
Nebraska
Minnesota
S. Dakota
Indiana
Wisconsin
USGCRP
Precipitation
Decrease
CMIP3-C
109
Ethanol Production: EIA State Energy Data 2009: Production
Integrating climate-adapted bioenergy crops into agricultural and forestry land-
scapes, as agroecological zones shift, has the potential to avoid losses of production at a
national level (Chum et al., 2011).
2) THERMAL ELECTRIC POWER PLANT SUPPLY
Thermal power plant supply is vulnerable to changes in water availability, greater fre-
quency and duration of elevated regional ambient air and water temperatures, and
increased frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme weather events (SAP 4.5). Con-
siderable further work has been done since 2007 on these issues for thermal power plant
supply, adding further understandings of risks and vulnerabilities.
Water availability
In some regions of the US, chronic or seasonal reductions in water supply due to
decreases in precipitation and/or water from melting snowpack are likely to be sig-
niicant, increasing the competition for water among various sectors including energy
production (Kenny et al., 2009).
The production of energy from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas and also from
nuclear power--is inextricably linked to the availability of adequate and sustainable sup-
plies of water (EPRI, 2011). While providing the United States with the majority of its
annual energy needs, fossil fuels also signiicantly afects the nation's water resources in
terms of both quantity and quality impacts (Cooley et al., 2011). In particular, the gener-
ation of electricity in thermal power plants (coal, nuclear, gas, or oil) is water dependent.
In 2005, power plants were the largest source of freshwater withdrawals (41%), followed
by irrigation (37%) (Kenny et al., 2009).
