Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...
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Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ... Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

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25.03.2013 Views

Environmental Consequences light-duty trucks), conservatively assuming that each person would drive their own vehicle. Construction timeframes were doubled. Typical operational phase activities include wind turbine operation, power generation, and any associated maintenance activities that would require vehicular access and heavy equipment operation when large components would be replaced. Although there are no direct air emissions from operating a wind turbine, there may be VOC emissions created during the routine maintenance activities of applying lubricants, cooling fluids, and greases; however, VOC emissions would be negligible. Also during the operations phase, vehicular traffic would produce fugitive dust and tailpipe emissions, such as from the maintenance of access roads, but these types of emissions would be infrequent and negligible. Table 21: Proposed Action Construction Emissions for WFF Mainland/Wallops Island Emissions 1 in tons per year Emissions in metric tonnes per year Emission Sources CO NOX VOC PM SOX 2 CO2 N2O CH4 CO2e Site Preparation - - -

Environmental Consequences Table 22: Proposed Action GHG Construction Emissions for WFF Mainland/Wallops Island Scenario/Activity Emissions Proposed Action (metric tonnes per year) 223.2 U.S. 2007 Baseline Emissions (10 6 metric tonnes per year) 7,150 Proposed Action Emissions as a Percent of U.S. Emissions 3.12 x10 -6 Source: EPA, 2009 Compared to the amount of GHGs emitted during the construction activity, the amount of GHGs offset by the operation of the two utility-scale wind turbines at WFF would be considerable. One 2.0 MW wind turbine is estimated to annually reduce the following quantities of GHG emissions (USDOE, 2001): 2,720 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) 82.5 pounds (lbs) nitrous oxide (N2O) Each residential-scale turbine would reduce CO2 by 3.3 tons and a negligible amount of N2O. Potentially, an additional beneficial impact would be a regional reduction in criteria pollutant emissions resulting from the lowered use of fossil fuels during the production of electricity at the source of the electric power generation that supplies WFF. Alternative One Similar to the Proposed Action, reviews for general conformity would not be necessary. The same BMPs described under the Proposed Action to reduce construction emissions would reduce air quality impacts from the construction and installation activities of one wind turbine at Wallops Island and solar panels at the Main Base. Diesel- or gasoline-powered stationary emergency generators would not be used in association with the solar panels. Construction activities associated with a single utility-scale wind turbine and five residentialscale wind turbines would be the same as described for Proposed Action, except the construction period would be shorter; therefore, construction-related emissions would be less. Similarly, the graded area required for all wind turbines would be less than under the Proposed Action. However, installation of the solar panels may require minimal grading at the Main Base. Although solar panels could potentially be placed on top of buildings as well as on the ground, emissions from grading for placement of solar panels on the ground were assumed to include the entire 3 hectares (7.5 acres) to account for worst-case emissions. There would be no direct air emissions from operation of the solar panels. However, routine activities during the operational phase to produce power, and regular monitoring and maintenance activities to ensure safe and consistent operation could cause some emissions. Potentially, minor VOC emissions may occur during routine maintenance activities (e.g., mirror washing every few weeks or mirror replacement). Because maintenance vehicular traffic would be minimal, it would produce negligible amounts of fugitive dust and tailpipe emissions. Additionally, maintaining the vegetation around the solar panels would be negligible and no different from the current mowing operations at the Main Base. 103

Environmental Consequences<br />

light-duty trucks), conserv<strong>at</strong>ively assuming th<strong>at</strong> each person would drive their own vehicle.<br />

Construction timeframes were doubled.<br />

Typical oper<strong>at</strong>ional phase activities include wind turbine oper<strong>at</strong>ion, power gener<strong>at</strong>ion, and any<br />

associ<strong>at</strong>ed maintenance activities th<strong>at</strong> would require vehicular access and heavy equipment<br />

oper<strong>at</strong>ion when large components would be replaced. Although there are no direct air emissions<br />

from oper<strong>at</strong>ing a wind turbine, there may be VOC emissions cre<strong>at</strong>ed during the routine<br />

maintenance activities of applying lubricants, cooling fluids, and greases; however, VOC<br />

emissions would be negligible. Also during the oper<strong>at</strong>ions phase, vehicular traffic would produce<br />

fugitive dust and tailpipe emissions, such as from the maintenance of access roads, but these<br />

types of emissions would be infrequent and negligible.<br />

Table 21: Proposed Action Construction Emissions for WFF Mainland/<strong>Wallops</strong> Island<br />

Emissions 1 in tons per year Emissions in metric tonnes per year<br />

Emission Sources<br />

CO NOX VOC PM SOX 2 CO2 N2O CH4 CO2e<br />

Site Prepar<strong>at</strong>ion - - -

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