Table 8.1 (continued) |
|
Resource |
Alternative |
Land use |
Ecology |
Aesthetics |
Water quality |
Air quality |
Waste |
Human health |
Socioeconomic |
Cultural |
Energy crops |
About 400,000 ha (1 million) acres for crop production. For plant, about 12 ha (30 acres) for each 20 MW facility |
Impacts depend on prior land use; if conversion of cropland, then more environ-mentally benign and would improve biodiversity (OTA; Ranney and Mann) |
Minor visual impacts with energy crop establishment. Localized visual impacts with plant construction |
Energy crops lower sedimentation, soil erosion, and chemical use relative to agriculture (Ranney and Mann). Small sedimentation and erosion damage at plant site |
Moderate vehicle exhaust and fugitive dust impacts from earth moving at plant site |
Considerable amount of vegetation debris and some con-struction debris at plant site |
Some accident risks for workers |
Source of income and employment in rural areas. Moderate size work force at plant site |
Relatively small impacts if cropland and pasture converted to energy crops |
Coal |
700 ha (1,700 acres) for plant site (DOE/EP- 0093) |
Loss of 700 ha (1,700 acres) habitat; some erosion, stream sedimentation |
Localized visual impacts from land clearing |
Potential sedimentation/ erosion damage |
Moderate vehicle exhaust, dust from earth moving |
Considerable construction debris |
Accident risk for workers |
1,200–2,500 peak work force (UDI-021-89) |
Relatively small unless important site-specific resource affected by plant or transmission lines |
Natural gas |
45 ha (110 acres) for plant site (DOE/EP-0093) |
Loss of 45 ha (110 acres) varied habitat; some erosion, stream sedimentation |
Localized visual impacts from land clearing |
Potential sedimentation/ erosion damage |
Some vehicle exhaust, substantial dust from earth moving |
Considerable construction debris |
Accident risk for workers |
1,200 peak work force (UDI-021-89) |
Relatively small unless important site-specific resource affected by plant or transmission lines |
Oil |
50 ha (120 acres) for plant site (DOE/EP-0093) |
Loss of 50 ha (120 acres) varied habitat; some erosion, stream sedimentation |
Localized visual impacts from land clearing |
Potential sedimentation/ erosion damage |
Some vehicle exhaust, substantial dust from earth moving |
Considerable construction debris |
Accident risk for workers |
1,700 peak work force (UDI-021-89) |
Relatively small unless important site-specific resource affected by plant or transmission lines |