Environmental management case studies Flashcards
Case study: One named located scheme to produce electricity (e.g. a power
station), showing some of the issues of changes in demand and supply, in power production and its
location, and evaluate the success of the scheme.
Mammoth Solar, Indiana
Mammoth Solar: What is the land in Northern Indiana currently used for?
Growing corn as the primary crop
Mammoth Solar: What is the size of the land required for the project?
13,000 acres, roughly the size of Manhattan, however only 2,600 will actually be covered with solar panels in an attempt to preserve the area’s look
Mammoth Solar: What is the political issue Doral (the company) are facing?
The area is a strongly republican area, with Trump flags everywhere, liberalism and new environmental projects are not tolerated well
Mammoth Solar: Which county is most affected?
Pulaski County primarily
Mammoth Solar: Why is this location so ideal?
It is already placed on two large energy grids, and the sunny weather and abundance of flat land make it perfect for solar panels
Mammoth Solar: What’s in it for the farmers?
Many land owners are actually happy with this and have already leased their land - One farmer has already planned to lease 6,000 acres of their land at $1000 an acre - meaning more than $1 million per year. Income is guaranteed, and it is seen as the natural extension of farming. Potatoes could be grown, sheep could be grazed in the fields with the solar panels.
Mammoth Solar: Social issues/ Who is Connie Ehrlich??
She wants to preserve the rural way of life, and is a wealthy lady who has set up an objection group based on the premise of protecting the area from a black sea of glass , she also spreads conspiracy theories such as birds will fry when they fly overhead and the panels will leach chemicals into the soil.
Mammoth Solar: What are some opportunities created by the project?
For the county/USA
- Biden says the US will meet net-zero by 2030
- 1/5 of the current tax revenue of Pulaski county will be made up from the project
- 60% of current US electricity generation is from fossil fuels, and this is the largest project proposed in the US
Mammoth Solar: Environment
What does pulaski county look like, and name a counterargument posed
Locals describe the area as idyllic and it forms part of the “corn belt”, where 1/5 of the world’s total corn is produced. One claim made is that we shouldn’t be replacing farmland with solar, however this is a weak argument as the fields can still be farmed, and only 20% of the fields will be covered
Mammoth Solar: Bonus - how much solar does the US require to move away from fossil fuels?
An area the size of West Virginia would have to be completely covered in solar panels, and if mammoth solar is met with so much pushback this seems unachievable
Case study: One country’s overall electrical energy strategy showing some of
the issues of changes in demand for and supply of electricity, in power production and its location,
and evaluate the success of the overall strategy.
National scale case study: China
China is the world’s biggest consumer and producer of energy - how much oil does it use?
2.74 billion tonnes of oil in 2012
What are the aims of China’s energy strategy?
- Increase sustainability
- Ensure a more secure supply of energy
- Adapt to the rapidly increasing demand for energy in a more sustainable way
How does China currently produce the majority of its energy?
60% coal, 17.3% oil
