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Экология ВИЭ / СЭС / Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development.pdf
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translocation is widely accepted as a useful strategy for the conservation of the

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desert tortoise (Field et al. 2007).

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5.11 AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE

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Solar energy development could affect air quality in the areas where it occurs as well as

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in areas that would benefit from reductions in emissions due to reduced use of fossil energy.

9During construction, fugitive dust from soil disturbances and engine exhaust from heavy

10equipment and commuter/delivery/support vehicular traffic within and around the facility would

11contribute to air emissions of criteria pollutants, VOCs, greenhouse gases (GHGs; e.g., carbon

12dioxide [CO2]), and a small amount of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs; e.g., benzene). Typically,

13potential impacts of fugitive dust emissions on ambient air quality would be higher than those of

14engine exhaust emissions.

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16With the possible exception of windblown dust from disturbed soils, operations air

17emissions associated with generating electricity from solar technologies are small. Emissions

18from the solar fields would include fugitive dust and engine exhaust emissions from vehicles and

19heavy equipment associated with regular site inspections, infrequent maintenance activities

20(e.g., mirror washing, replacement of broken mirrors), and wind erosion from bare grounds and

21access roads. Once disturbed, areas with biological soil crusts and desert pavement can become

22long-term dust sources and thus may require special consideration during the ROW application

23process or during the air permit application process.

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25 For operating parabolic trough and solar power tower technologies, power block

26 emissions would include criteria pollutants and HAPs from small-scale boilers for processing 27 (e.g., for maintaining heat transfer fluid [HTF] temperatures) and particulate matter (PM) as drift 28 from wet-cooling towers, if in use. Other combustion sources common among solar technologies 29 would include space-heating boilers, diesel-fueled emergency power generators (typically

30 operating only a few hours per month), and emergency fire-water pump engines. Storage tanks, 31 including fuel tanks, would emit VOCs and a small amount of HAPs. Engine exhaust from

32 commuter, delivery, and support vehicular traffic would also contribute emissions within and 33 around the solar facility. These air emissions during operation would be minimal in comparison 34 with those from fossil fuel–fired power plants. Impacts on climate would primarily be associated 35 with reductions in CO2 emissions from avoided fossil energy sources.

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37The information presented in the Draft Solar PEIS remains valid, with the following

38updates.

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Final Solar PEIS

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July 2012