Table 4.28 Welfare Effects of a Coal-Gasification/ Combined-Cycle Fuel Cyclea Air Pollution Atmospheric Changes Thermal Discharges Water Pollution Water Use Solid Waste Land Use Disturbance Electromagnet ic Disturbances Ionizing Radiation Noise Aesthet ic Disturbances Mining Processing Transportat ion Power generation Power generation Power generation Mining Processing Power generation Mining Processing Power generation Mining Processing Power generation Mining Process ing Transportat ion Power generation Transmission Transmission Power generation Mining Transportat ion Power generation Transmiss ion Mining Processing Transportat ion Power generation Transmission Emissions of SO2 and N0x greatly reduced by CG/CC compared to the conventional coal-fuel cycle. These emissions do contribute to acid rainfall, which can reduce crop yield and remove lakes or rivers from commercial or recreational use. Emissions of SO2 and particulates can cause or augment material damage and reduce crop yields. Secondary particulates can impair visibility. Injection of large amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere may promote global warming, with effects on precipitation, agriculture, and ocean levels. Particulate emissions may also play a minor role in climatic change. Cooling tower operation can increase local fogging and icing, with effects on visibility, traffic, and convenience for nearby residents. Cloud and precipitation augmentation is possible but should be minor, with little effect on crop productivity. Discharges of acids, dissolved solids, suspended solids, and other chemicals can degrade drinking water supplies, contaminate waterways, lower crop productivity because of acidified irrigation or ground water, and reduce commercial and recreational use of streams and lakes. Mining can disrupt water flow patterns. Cooling needs during power production require extensive amounts of water if evaporative systems are used. Both impacts can conflict with downstream and competing uses. Demand for disposal sites can be increased. Land use, value, and productivity can be reduced by overburden and refuse from mining and processing, ash and scrubber wastes, and by hazardous trace metals from coal. Ash wastes are about 25Z less than those for the conventional coal fuel cycle. Surface mining and power generation (waste disposal) remove land from alternate uses; reclaimed land may be less productive agriculturally than before mining. Subsidence of land over underground mines can reduce land values; damage crops, buildings, and livestock; rupture pipes; and disrupt drainage. Coal processing can contaminate and lower value of surrounding land. Transportation and transmission land requirements are significant and limit other uses of the land. High intensity magnetic fields around transmission lines can cause radio and TV interference in fringe reception areas. Small quantities of radioactive materials are emitted during coal combustion. Welfare effects of these emissions, which are uncertain, include effects of long-term exposure of crops and livestock to radiation. Welfare impacts of noise generation from most coal- related activities are relatively minor due to the remote locations of the operations. Audible hum from high-voltage transmission lines may occur. Visual impacts will occur from mines, tailing piles, power plants, stack plumes, and transmission corridors.
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