South Carolina Electric & Gas COL Application Part 3 – Environmental Report CHAPTER 9, PROPOSED ACTION ALTERNATIVES TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Title Page 9.0 ALTERNATIVES.................................................................................. 9.0-1 9.1 NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE.............................................................. 9.1-1 9.2 ENERGY ALTERNATIVES ................................................................ 9.2-1 9.2.1 ALTERNATIVES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE NEW GENERATING CAPACITY............................................................ 9.2-1 9.2.1.1 Purchasing Power from Other Utilities or Power Generators...... 9.2-1 9.2.1.2 Reactivating or Extending Service Life of Existing Plants........... 9.2-2 9.2.1.3 Demand Side Management......................................................... 9.2-3 9.2.1.3.1 SCE&G Demand Side Management........................................... 9.2-3 9.2.1.3.2 Santee Cooper Demand Side Management ............................... 9.2-5 9.2.1.3.3 State of South Carolina Demand Side Management Projections .................................................................................. 9.2-6 9.2.2 ALTERNATIVES THAT COULD PROVIDE NEW GENERATING CAPACITY............................................................ 9.2-6 9.2.2.1 Introduction.................................................................................. 9.2-6 9.2.2.2 Wind ............................................................................................ 9.2-8 9.2.2.3 Solar Technologies.................................................................... 9.2-10 9.2.2.4 Hydroelectric Power .................................................................. 9.2-11 9.2.2.5 Geothermal................................................................................ 9.2-12 9.2.2.6 Biomass Related Fuels ............................................................. 9.2-13 9.2.2.7 Municipal Solid Waste............................................................... 9.2-14 9.2.2.8 Petroleum Liquids ..................................................................... 9.2-15 9.2.2.9 Fuel Cells .................................................................................. 9.2-16 9.2.2.10 Coal........................................................................................... 9.2-16 9.2.2.10.1 Pulverized Coal Boiler............................................................... 9.2-16 9.2.2.10.2 Fluidized Bed Boiler ................................................................. 9.2-17 9.2.2.10.3 Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle................................... 9.2-18 9.2.2.11 Natural Gas ............................................................................... 9.2-19 9.2.2.12 Combination of Alternatives ...................................................... 9.2-20 9.2.3 ASSESSMENT OF REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES AND SYSTEMS ........................................................ 9.2-21 9.2.3.1 Coal-Fired Generation............................................................... 9.2-21 9.2.3.1.1 Air Quality.................................................................................. 9.2-22 9.2.3.1.2 Waste Management .................................................................. 9.2-23 9.2.3.1.3 Other Impacts............................................................................ 9.2-24 9.2.3.1.4 Design Alternatives ................................................................... 9.2-24 9.2.3.2 Natural Gas Generation ............................................................ 9.2-25 9.2.3.2.1 Air Quality.................................................................................. 9.2-25 9.2.3.2.2 Waste Management .................................................................. 9.2-26 9.2.3.2.3 Other Impacts............................................................................ 9.2-26 9.2.3.2.4 Design Alternatives ................................................................... 9.2-26 9.2.4 CONCLUSION............................................................................. 9.2-27 9.3 ALTERNATIVE SITES........................................................................ 9.3-1 9-i Revision 1 South Carolina Electric & Gas COL Application Part 3 – Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Section Title Page 9.3.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 9.3-1 9.3.2 OVERVIEW OF SITE SELECTION PROCESS ............................ 9.3-2 9.3.2.1 Region of Interest........................................................................ 9.3-2 9.3.2.2 Identification of Potential Sites .................................................... 9.3-4 9.3.2.3 Screening Process to Identify Candidate Sites ......................... 9.3-11 9.3.2.4 Selection of Proposed and Alternative Sites ............................. 9.3-14 9.3.3 ALTERNATIVE SITE REVIEW.................................................... 9.3-15 9.3.3.1 Evaluation of the Savannah River Site ................................... 9.3-16 9.3.3.1.1 Land Use Including Site and Transmission Line Rights-of-Way............................................................................ 9.3-16 9.3.3.1.2 Air Quality.................................................................................. 9.3-18 9.3.3.1.3 Hydrology, Water Use, and Water Quality ................................ 9.3-18 9.3.3.1.4 Terrestrial Resources Including Protected Species .................. 9.3-20 9.3.3.1.5 Aquatic Resources Including Protected Species....................... 9.3-21 9.3.3.1.6 Socioeconomics ........................................................................ 9.3-22 9.3.3.1.6.1 Physical Impacts.................................................................... 9.3-22 9.3.3.1.6.2 Demography .......................................................................... 9.3-23 9.3.3.1.6.3 Economy................................................................................ 9.3-24 9.3.3.1.6.4 Taxes ..................................................................................... 9.3-25 9.3.3.1.6.5 Transportation........................................................................ 9.3-26 9.3.3.1.6.6 Aesthetics and Recreation..................................................... 9.3-27 9.3.3.1.6.7 Housing ................................................................................. 9.3-28 9.3.3.1.6.8 Public Services ...................................................................... 9.3-29 9.3.3.1.6.9 Education............................................................................... 9.3-30 9.3.3.1.7 Historic and Cultural Resources................................................ 9.3-31 9.3.3.1.8 Environmental Justice ............................................................... 9.3-32 9.3.3.2 Evaluation of the Cope Generating Station Site........................ 9.3-33 9.3.3.2.1 Land Use Including Site and Transmission Line Rights-of-Way............................................................................ 9.3-33 9.3.3.2.2 Air Quality.................................................................................. 9.3-35 9.3.3.2.3 Hydrology, Water Use, and Water Quality ................................ 9.3-36 9.3.3.2.4 Terrestrial Resources Including Protected Species .................. 9.3-38 9.3.3.2.5 Aquatic Resources Including Protected Species....................... 9.3-39 9.3.3.2.6 Socioeconomics ........................................................................ 9.3-41 9.3.3.2.6.1 Physical Impacts.................................................................... 9.3-41 9.3.3.2.6.2 Demography .......................................................................... 9.3-42 9.3.3.2.6.3 Economy................................................................................ 9.3-43 9.3.3.2.6.4 Taxes ..................................................................................... 9.3-44 9.3.3.2.6.5 Transportation........................................................................ 9.3-45 9.3.3.2.6.6 Aesthetics and Recreation..................................................... 9.3-46 9.3.3.2.6.7 Housing.................................................................................. 9.3-47 9.3.3.2.6.8 Public Services ...................................................................... 9.3-48 9.3.3.2.6.9 Education............................................................................... 9.3-49 9.3.3.2.7 Historic and Cultural Resources................................................ 9.3-50 9.3.3.2.8 Environmental Justice .............................................................. 9.3-51 9-ii Revision 1 South Carolina Electric & Gas COL Application Part 3 – Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Section Title Page 9.3.3.3 Evaluation of the Saluda Site .................................................... 9.3-52 9.3.3.3.1 Land Use Including Site and Transmission Line Rights-of-Way............................................................................ 9.3-53 9.3.3.3.2 Air Quality.................................................................................. 9.3-54 9.3.3.3.3 Hydrology, Water Use, and Water Quality ................................ 9.3-55 9.3.3.3.4 Terrestrial Resources Including Protected Species .................. 9.3-56 9.3.3.3.5 Aquatic Resources Including Endangered Species .................. 9.3-58 9.3.3.3.6 Socioeconomics .......................................................................