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An Environmental and Societal Analysis of the US Electrical Energy Industry Based on the Water–Energy Nexus

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  • Gabriela Shirkey

    (Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
    Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 1405 S Harrison Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA)

  • Megan Belongeay

    (Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin–Platteville 1 University Plaza, Platteville, WI 53818, USA)

  • Susie Wu

    (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No.12 Zhongguancun South St., Beijing 100081, China)

  • Xiaoguang Ma

    (Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Urban Planning and Decision Making, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China)

  • Hassan Tavakol

    (Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182, USA)

  • Annick Anctil

    (Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Sandra Marquette-Pyatt

    (Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Rodney A. Stewart

    (School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia)

  • Parikith Sinha

    (First Solar, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA)

  • Richard Corkish

    (School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Jiquan Chen

    (Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
    Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 1405 S Harrison Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA)

  • Ilke Celik

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E. St Joseph St, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA)

Abstract

To meet rising energy demands, power plant operations will expand, influencing the interactions between the water–energy nexus and society. However, a major challenge is integration of social dimensions within electricity generation. To address this, we generate a baseline dataset using US public data (2014–2019) from the Energy Information Administration and US Bureau of Labor Statistics. We identify the rate of energy consumed, CO 2 , SO 2 and NO x emissions generated, and water used per MWh net electricity as well as employee wellbeing per unit MW capacity during electricity generation. Rates of energy consumption (MMBtu/MWh) decreased 4.9%, but water consumption and withdrawal (m 3 /MWh) both increased 0.93% and 0.31%, respectively. Emissions of CO 2 , SO 2 and NO x decreased 22.64%, 75% and 25% MT/MWh, respectively. Thermoelectric cooling withdrawal and consumption is led by natural gas (50.07%, 38.31%), coal (29.61%, 25.07%), and nuclear energies (13.55%, 18.99%). Electric power generation contributes 0.06 injuries–illnesses/TWh and 0.001 fatalities/TWh, of which fossil fuels contributed 70% and 15%, respectively. Fossil fuels led in average annual employment (0.02 employees/MW) with low cost salaries (USD 0.09/MW) likely due to high collective capacity, which is declining. Estimated rates in this study and framework will aid power industry transition and operational decision makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriela Shirkey & Megan Belongeay & Susie Wu & Xiaoguang Ma & Hassan Tavakol & Annick Anctil & Sandra Marquette-Pyatt & Rodney A. Stewart & Parikith Sinha & Richard Corkish & Jiquan Chen & Ilke Celik, 2021. "An Environmental and Societal Analysis of the US Electrical Energy Industry Based on the Water–Energy Nexus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:9:p:2633-:d:548739
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Maryam Piran & Alireza Sharifi & Mohammad Mahdi Safari, 2023. "Exploring the Roles of Education, Renewable Energy, and Global Warming on Health Expenditures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Yachen Xie & Jiaguo Qi & Rui Zhang & Xiaomiao Jiao & Gabriela Shirkey & Shihua Ren, 2022. "Toward a Carbon-Neutral State: A Carbon–Energy–Water Nexus Perspective of China’s Coal Power Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-24, June.
    3. Megan Belongeay & Gabriela Shirkey & Marina Monteiro Lunardi & Gonzalo Rodriguez-Garcia & Parikhit Sinha & Richard Corkish & Rodney A. Stewart & Annick Anctil & Jiquan Chen & Ilke Celik, 2023. "Photovoltaic Systems through the Lens of Material-Energy-Water Nexus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Yitong Yin & Gang Lin & Dong Jiang & Jingying Fu & Donglin Dong, 2021. "Multi-Scenario Simulation of a Water–Energy Coupling System Based on System Dynamics: A Case Study of Ningbo City," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-22, September.

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