ENVIRONMENTAL WELFARE COMPARISON Ronald G. Whitfield Argonne National Laboratory - Argonne, Illinois 60439 Environmental welfare effects are defined as those effects from environmental degradation due to electrical power generation which are not directly related to public or occupational health and safety but concern the well-being of individuals. Studies were conducted to investigate pathways of energy activities which may cause environmental impacts and lead to welfare effects. Six activities contributing to the fuel cycle for eight energy technologies were defined, characterized, and studied in terms of resultant environmental impacts; welfare effects were classified into six categories. Study results include identification of priority welfare effects based on severity of occurrence and state of knowledge about uncertainty. These priority effects merit closer examination to reduce uncertainties and to develop mitigating actions. An analysis was performed on two levels; first was a side-by-side analysis based on the emissions and residuals due to energy related activities of power generation plants rated at 1250 MWe; second was a scenario-driven alternative futures analysis intended to overcome the shortcomings of a side-by-side analysis by looking at a detailed mix of possible energy technologies in the future. Not all environmental impacts result in environmental welfare effects. For example, the chemical discharge into a river is not a welfare effect in and of itself. However, if the chemical discharge results in smaller catches by commercial fishermen or prevents recreational uses of the river, the smaller catches and loss of recreational use would be welfare effects; the chemical discharge would then be considered a welfare-related environmental impact. On the other hand, if a person becomes ill after swimming in a river polluted by the chemical discharge the illness would be a health effect not a welfare effect. Fewer potentially severe environmental welfare effects have been identified for nuclear options than for coal and solar options. Potentially severe environmental welfare effects identified which are due to air pollution from coal combustion include reduced crop yields, accelerated material deterioration, reduced visibility, reduced commercial/recreational use of waters degraded by acid rainfall. Also of concern is the release of toxic materials from the manufacture of solar cells and from SPS rocket launches. Coal combustion contributes significantly to the total man-made input of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and could augment the possible "greenhouse effect" of steadily increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Global temperature increases may be capable of altering precipitation patterns, agricultural production and ocean levels. Water pollution due to underground coal mining, nuclear fuel fabrication, and solar cell manufacturing produce welfare effects including reduced drinking water quality, reduced commercial/recreational use of streams and lakes, and lowered crop productivity because of irrigation with degraded water. Fabrication of nuclear reactor fuel releases ammonia, nitrates, and florine at levels several orders of magnitude above those permitted by drinking water standards. While it is not known what effluents would be discharged from solar cell
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