Environmental Science

Instructor: Mark Aronson

Laboratory Fieldtrip: MidAmerican Energy

Please answer the following questions:

1. What type of power generation facility did you visit?

2. What was the primary fuel source for the plant? Where did this fuel source come from?

3. What are the potential sources of environmental damage associated with this power

generation facility?

4. What measures are used by the industry to control the emissions/waste streams from this

type of generation facility?

5. In your opinion, is this industry a responsible environmental "citizen" ? What evidence

supports your position?

6. What can you do as a consumer of energy to reduce your consumption? Why would you

want to reduce your consumption?

7. Why is it environmentally desirable to use renewable sources of energy?

8. Is the cheapest source of energy always the most desirable form of energy? (i.e. currently, the use of coal is the cheapest source of energy for commercial power generation; are there any other commercially viable alternatives?) Is the current utility industry interested in pursuing alternative technologies for power generation?