Alternative Energy

renewable energy sources

• solar

• wind

• geothermal

• hydroelectric

• nuclear

no energy source

is completely impact-free

manufacturing, sitting, and disposal of renewable energy can create

local health risks

EJ concerns still persist in the

clean energy transition

solar energy

process of capturing solar radiation into useful forms of energy

process of turning solar energy

1. photovoltaic PV cells

2. sun shines on solar panel

3. photons knock electrons free and create a direct current (DC) flow

4. inverter converts this to alternative current (AC) for transfer to home or to electrical grid

7% of US electricity is

generated by solar energy

co-benefits of solar energy

reduced air pollution & urban heat island effect

• lowers GHG emissions and other hazardous pollutants

• reduces urban heat island effect by reducing ambient temperature near buildings

solar panels & water conservation

solar panels require little to no water, unlike fossil fuel plants

economic and social co-benefits of solar energy

• job creation

• energy security

issues with solar panel manufacturing

• silicon tetrachloride panels

• cadmium panels

• lead solder

• PFAs

silicon tetrachloride panels

causes burns and air pollution if handled incorrectly

cadmium panels

carcinogen used in thin-film PVs

lead solder

neurotoxicant present in most panels

PFAS

~80% of panels use persistent PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances in outer layers)

solar panel waste

approx 9.5 million tons of PV panels will need to be decommissioned, as solar panels have an avg lifespan of ~25 years

panels may be classified as hazardous waste

under RCRA if there are elevated levels of lead, cadmium, or chromium

risk of improper solar panel disposal

leaching of toxic metals into soil or groundwater

• US lacks federal recycling mandate for PV panels

there is an unequal solar distribution

with areas of arizona and new mexico experiencing more sun

wind energy

process of converting wind kinetic energy to useable forms of energy

• wind causes blade to turn

• spins a generator to produce electricity

• electricity sent through transformers to the power grid

10% of US utility scale electricity

comes from wind sources

co-benefits of wind energy are

basically the same as solar energy

health effects from wind energy

• noise from wind turbines

  • annoyance

  • sleep disturbance

  • headaches

  • stress

BUT no causal link between noise and health complains

occupational health hazards of wind energy

• falls

• electric hazards

• noise exposure

geothermal energy

• harness heat from deep within Earth’s crust to generate electricity

• wells extract hot water or steam from underground reservoirs to turn turbines

• convert to electricity

• send to power grid

less than 1% of US energy

is geothermal

health effects of geothermal energy

• hydrogen sulfide emission leads to respiratory and CV disease

• water contamination as geothermal fluids can contain high levels of arsenic, mercury, lead

• radon gas can be emitted and may be particularly risky for workers

• thermal spills put workers at risk of severe burns from pressurized high temp water

hydroelectric energy

6% of world’s energy comes from hydroelectric plants

generates electricity by using the kinetic energy of flowing water to spin turbines connected to generators

• damn on river stores water in a reservoir and releases water through a smaller pipe and uses gravity to turn turbine blades

• electricity then sent to power grid

health effects of hydroelectricity

• flooded areas trigger bacteria to convert inorganic mercury → toxic methylmercury

  • bioaccumulation near hydroelectric dams

  • Canadian hydro sites have more methylmercury in their local food chains

• improper reservoir design contributes to breeding habitats for mosquitos and snails to increase vector-borne disease

nuclear energy

energy harnessed from fission, split atoms of uranium creates heat

• heat boils water to create steam

• steam spins turbines connected to a generator to produce electricity

• electricity transferred to a power grid

co-benefits of nuclear energy

• low greenhouse gas emission

• high reliability and capacity

• job creation

• reduced emissions of harmful air pollutants

• reduction in health burdens related to climate change

nuclear energy is the safest clean source

safer than fossil fuels (99.9% of fewer deaths than coal)

primary risks of ionizing radiation

• damage DNA

• lead to cancer, CVD, genetic alteration

communities near plants are subject to chronic low-dose exposure which has been linked to

leukemia in children

acute radiation syndrome

resulting from major nuclear energy accidents

• extremely rare

concerns with nuclear energy

41% of US freshwater withdrawals are for nuclear thermoelectric power

• 30% efficient with most remaining energy as heat in cooling water

• cooling water returns at higher temps which alters water temp and ecosystems

risk of catastrophic accidents are rare, but not 0 risk

nuclear waste disposal issues

250,000 tons of radioactive waste has accumulated from 14 countries

• enter groundwater and contaminate food chain

• hazardous up to 10,000 years

• only 3% of nuclear waste is high-level

• no permanent disposal facility

uranium mining concerns

500 abandoned uranium mines in Navajo Nation land

• each stage of nuclear life cycle produced radioactive emissions

• mining communities bear exposure risk

• contamination persists for thousands of years in land and water

• nuclear facilities have followed patterns of environmental racism

coal emits 20 times more greenhouse gases per kWh

than solar, wind, or nuclear

state of US energy sources

natural gases → 40%

renewables → 21%

nuclear → 20%

coal → 19%

air quality impacted by

• low solar

• low geothermal

• low hydroelectric

water quality impacted by

• high nuclear

• moderate geothermal

• high hydroelectric

land use impacted by

• moderate wind

• high hydroelectric

wildlife impacted by

• moderate wind

• high hydroelectric

occupational impacted by

• moderate solar

• high wind

• high radiation

• moderate geothermal

• moderate hydroelectric

EJ concerns

• moderate solar

• low-moderate wind

• high nuclear

• low-moderate geothermal

• high hydroelectric

distributional justice

who bears the cost?

• mining communities

• e-waste recipients in dev nations

• rural communities near plants

procedural justice

who decides?

• indigenous communities often excluded

• low-incomed neighborhoods provide minimal input

recognitional justice

whose knowledge counts?

• 500+ abandoned uranium mines reflects decades of failure to respect indigenous rights and health a just

a just transition

must address climate mitigation and equitable distribution of costs and benefits