FAQ: ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT
The Sunshine Wind Park will generate approximately 130
Gigawatt hours of non-polluting electricity each year. Since the
wind does not blow all the time, the facility will not generate
in every hour of the year. However, the facility will generate
some electricity about 70% of the time.
When the project is generating, electric utilities may be able to reduce output at coal and gas-fired power plants in the state.
This has the potential to reduce emissions of various toxic pollutants
that result from the combustion of coal and natural gas, improving
air quality and visibility, water quality, human health, and
the health of the natural environment.
- Save 62 million gallons of water, approximately 190 acre
feet [2]
- Reduce Smog and Particulates
- Avoid 115 tons of Nitrogen Oxides emissions and particulates
that contribute to emphysema and asthma in children and seniors
- Reduce Acid Rain
- Avoid 72 tons Sulfur Dioxide emissions, improving local and
regional water quality, river systems, and forest health
- Reduce Mercury and other Heavy Metals, toxic substances that
contribute to cancer in the general population.
- Help slow global warming
- Reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions by 86,000 tons, equivalent
to removing 16,600 cars from the road or planting 46 square
miles of forest
- Avoid over 850 lbs of methane emission, the most significant
greenhouse gas
Footnotes:
[1] Environmental benefits are calculated based on Arizona state
power plant emissions data reported by Department of Energy EIA
2002 and assumption that reductions in fossil-fired generation come
70% from gas-fired and 30% from coal-fired generation over the course
of a year.
[2] Based on TREIA estimates of water usage for fossil generators
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