What is the effect that power generation has on global warming?

Question

What problems does power generation give off... etc.

Answer 1

Electric power plants. They are the single largest industrial source of some of the worst air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, Scientists have shown that power plant pollution is linked to serious health effects and environmental damage.

What effect does this pollution have on Americans?

Scientists have shown that power plant pollution is linked to serious health effects and environmental damage:

Premature death: In the eastern United States, sulfur dioxide is the primary component of fine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, and are linked with respiratory disease and premature death. Power plants emit two-thirds of U.S. sulfur dioxide pollution and are responsible for shortening the lives of an estimated 30,000 Americans each year.

Asthma: Nitrogen oxides are major ingredients in ozone pollution (smog). During 1999, ozone pollution levels rose above the level the EPA deems healthy more than 7,694 times in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Smog and fine particle pollution are especially damaging for the 14.9 million asthma sufferers in this country, including 5 million children. In 1997, smog triggered more than 6 million asthma attacks and sent almost 160,000 people to the emergency room in the eastern United States alone.

Mercury contamination: Mercury can cause serious neurological and developmental damage, including birth defects, subtle losses of sensory or cognitive ability, and delays in developmental milestones such as walking and talking. Power plants are responsible for 34 percent of all mercury emissions, which settle into our waters, where they accumulate in fish. In 41 states, officials warn against eating fish from mercury-contaminated lakes and rivers.

Acid rain: Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from power plants form acids in the atmosphere that fall to earth as rain, fog, snow or dry particles. This "acid rain" is often carried hundreds of miles by the wind. Acid rain damages forests and kills fish, and can also damage buildings, historical monuments and even cars.

Global warming: Power plants emit 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide pollution, the primary cause of global warming. Scientists say that unless global warming emissions are reduced, average U.S. temperatures could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century -- with far-reaching effects. Air pollution will worsen. Sea levels will rise, flooding coastal areas. Heat waves will be more frequent and intense. Droughts and wildfires will occur more often in some regions, heavy rains and flooding in others. Species will disappear from their historic ranges and habitats will be lost. Many of these changes have already begun.

Answer 2

It depends on how the power was generated. If it was generated by nuclear power, wind, solar, or hydroelectric dams, then no CO2 is produced. The Co2 and other pollutants are the ones that cause global warming. If the power is produced by burning coal, and most power plants are coal, then that contributes to global warming. Incidentally, have you seen the ads on TV lately promoting "clean coal"? Don't believe it. There is no such thing.

Answer 3

And let us all consider: What effect did power generation and industrialization have regarding melting the ice ages, before there was any power or industrialization?

And isn't it funny that during one warm week in New York, people were whining about "global warming," but when it became colder than heck as usual, we didn't hear a peep?

Answer 4

If you are talking of fossil fuels then human energy generation contributes to 0.2% of greenhouse gases. Interestingly enough scientists believe that water vapor plays upward of 95%.