Turning Oil into Electricity: Is it worth it? - P#2

            Oil provides for 40 percent of our energy needs through such products as gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, propane and heating oil.  However, when it comes to producing electricity, oil accounts for only 8 percent of the electricity consumed by Americans. These electric generating plants use three technologies to produce electricity, conventional steam, combustion turbines and combined-cycle turbines. Conventional steam uses oil to heat up boilers creating steam to turn turbines creating electricity. Combustion turbines look like giant jet engines in which the oil fuels these turbines creating electricity and is the most common method using oil. A newer technology, combined-cycle combines both conventional steam and combustion; the combustion turbine produces super-hot exhaust that boils steam to turn another steam turbine producing twice as much electricity. While the technology used in these power plants proves efficient, there are many side effects and impacts to the environment that are detrimental, and perhaps oil power plants should be replaced with cleaner, renewable forms of energy.

            The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates laws on a Federal and State level to protect the environment and the health of the American population. This federal agency monitors all sources of energy, renewable and non-renewable to make sure it is doing as little harm to our environment as possible.  However, oil burning power plants release into the air on average,  “1672 lbs/MWh (Megawatt hour)  of carbon dioxide, 12 lbs/MWh of sulfur dioxide and 4 lbs/MWh of nitrogen oxides.” (“Oil”)  This in turn causes acid rain which kills plants and trees destroying our environment. Acid rain is the main cause to erosion which leads to landslides and the destruction of native species of plants and animals.
           
            Oil power plants need to use water for many reasons: for the production of steam, for the cooling machinery, and for the cleaning out systems. All of these sources produce pollutants that affect our environment. When oil power plants use steam, large amounts of water are used from lakes or rivers, which in turn can kill aquatic life. Wastewater used to cool super-hot equipment “is generally hotter than the water in nearby lakes and streams, often harming fish and plants.” (“Oil”)  In addition many chemicals like mercury are released which in turn collects in fish populations. Mercury poisoning can occur from the consumption of contaminated fish, which in turn can cause blindness, loss of hearing, brain damage and death.

            Oil refineries which take crude oil and remove impurities are a source of great environmental concern. The recovery of oil from the ground often causes methane to be released, which is a greenhouse gas, and may be contributing to global climate change. Another side effect of oil drilling can cause oil to be released into groundwater supplies which contaminates underground rivers and streams and eventually makes it to surface water. “Drilling also produces a long list of air pollutants, toxic and hazardous materials, and emissions of hydrogen sulfide, a highly flammable and toxic gas.”  (“Electricity”)  Wastewater sludge and other solid waste produced by the refining of oil contains high levels of toxic compounds that require special waste management and disposal.

            While oil is an abundant fuel source, it is nonrenewable, meaning it cannot be replenished during our normal lifetime. It takes over a million years of the earth’s heat and pressure and the decomposition of organic material to produce oil.  With only 8 percent of the electricity being produced from oil power plants, it seems to make sense that the United States should focus on replacing these oil power plants with renewable sources of electricity. Renewable sources like solar, wind, hydro and biomass can also be used to produce electricity, and these sources produce very little pollutants and carbon footprint. 

 

 

Bibliography

 

"Electricity from Oil." Electricity from Oil. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. <http://www.powerscorecard.org/tech_detail.cfm?resource_id=8>.

 

"Oil." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. <http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/oil.html>.

 

"How Do Oil Spills Damage the Environment?" About.com Environmental Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. <http://environment.about.com/od/petroleum/a/oil_spills_and_environment.htm>.

 

"Types of Renewable Energy." Why Is Renewable Energy Important? N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/home>.