IPSPR: Electronic Publications

Definition: This indictor provides data regarding emissions from the generation of electivity by all sources (power plants and industrial facilities) for five years.

Significance: Electricity generation is one of the most significant sources of air pollution in the United States. Moreover, pollution from electricity generation has become an issue of national importance, regardless of where the facilities are concentrated, because it has been discovered that the emissions from these plants frequently travel hundreds or thousands of miles before settling back to Earth. Thus, emissions from a facility in the Midwest can have effects on the environment in the Southeast or Northeast.

Data reflect South Carolina (SC) total, United States (US) average, and Southeast (SE) average. The southeast region consists of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Selected State Rankings, 2006, Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Generation of Electricity in Metric Tons (“1” represents the state with the highest carbon dioxide emissions)

Selected State Rankings, 2006, Sulfur Dioxide Emissions from the Generation of Electricity in Metric Tons (“1” represents the state with the highest sulfur dioxide emissions)

Selected State Rankings, 2006, Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from the Generation of Electricity in Metric Tons (“1” represents the state with the highest nitrogen oxide emissions)

Definition: This indicator shows the generation of electricity, by fuel source, for use by the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Compared to many other states, South Carolina relies particularly heavily on electricity as a power source. Also, South Carolina generates a high percentage of its electricity through the use of nuclear fuels. The data below is measured in megawatt hours. A watt is equal to the power in a circuit in which a current of one ampere flows across a potential difference of one volt.[i] A watt hour is a unit of measure equal to 1 watt of power supplied to, or taken from, an electrical circuit steadily for 1 hour.[ii] A megawatt hours is one million watt hours.[iii]

Significance: The choice of fuel source for electric generation can have a significant impact on environmental quality. For example, using fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas to generate electricity can cause varying amounts of air pollution (and subsequently water pollution as well) depending on the fuel used. The use of hydropower to generate electricity can significantly reduce the amount of air pollution generated in an area; however, hydropower facilities can have other adverse environmental impacts, especially on water bodies and fish populations. South Carolina generates a significant amount of its electricity through the use of nuclear power. Though at first glance nuclear power appears to be significantly “cleaner” than using fossil fuels or hydropower, there are significant issues relating to the safety of nuclear power plant, environmental contamination in case of an accident, and ultimate disposal of spent nuclear fuel (currently stored at the plants) that balance out some of nuclear power’s environmental benefits.

Thirty-one states have nuclear-powered electricity generation facilities located within their borders.[iv] Seven of the eight Southeastern states (Kentucky is the exception) have these facilities. As these charts reveal, the southeastern United States, and South Carolina in particular, tend to use nuclear power as a means of generating electricity more frequently than does most of the rest of the country.

Data reflect South Carolina (SC) total, United States (US) average, and Southeast (SE) average. The southeast region consists of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Selected State Rankings, Nuclear Power Generation in Megawatt Hours, 2006 (“1” represents the state with the highest generation of electricity using nuclear power, measured in MWH. Rankings reflect the fact that only 31 states generated electricity with nuclear power.

[i] Nuclear Regulatory Commission Glossary

[ii] Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Glossary

[iii] Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Glossary

[iv] Thirty one states have nuclear powered electric generation facilities located within their borders. They are: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI.