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Home > Electric Service > Electricity and the Environment

Electricity and the Environment

The generation and use of electricity affects the environment we live in. The most common example is the burning of fossil fuels - coal, oil or natural gas - to create steam which then is used in an electric generator. The smoke and gas from burning fossil fuels pollutes the air we breathe. Another example is a hydro-electric facility, which uses the force of water to turn the turbines in the generator, but which also disrupts the natural flow of a river with possible negative effects on fish and water plants. Wind generators are sometimes criticized for the way they look and because they might kill birds. The point is that no matter what, generating electricity affects the environment, and people may want to become better informed about these effects so they can make their views known when the construction of new power plants is proposed or the relicensing of existing units occurs. The following links may provide such information to interested people.