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

Gabriela Shirkey, Megan Belongeay, Susie Wu, Xiaoguang Ma, Hassan Tavakol, Annick Anctil, Sandra Marquette-Pyatt, Rodney A. Stewart, Parikith Sinha, Richard Corkish, Jiquan Chen and Ilke Celik
Additional contact information
Gabriela Shirkey: Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, 673 Auditorium Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824, 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
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

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-20

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.

Keywords: electricity generation; water–energy nexus; renewable energy; employee welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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