Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report CHAPTER 9 ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Title Page 9.0 ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION ....................................................... 9.0-1 9.1 NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE ...................................................................................... 9.1-1 9.1.1 IMPLICATIONS AND EFFECTS OF TAKING NO ACTION.................................. 9.1-1 9.2 ENERGY ALTERNATIVES......................................................................................... 9.2-1 9.2.1 ALTERNATIVES NOT REQUIRING NEW GENERATING CAPACITY ............... 9.2-1 9.2.1.1 Power Purchases ............................................................................................ 9.2-2 9.2.1.2 Plant Reactivation or Extended Service Life ................................................... 9.2-2 9.2.1.3 Conservation (Energy Efficiency) .................................................................... 9.2-3 9.2.1.4 Combination of Alternatives ............................................................................ 9.2-3 9.2.2 ALTERNATIVES REQUIRING NEW GENERATING CAPACITY ........................ 9.2-4 9.2.2.1 Wind ................................................................................................................ 9.2-7 9.2.2.2 Solar Thermal Power and Photovoltaic Cells ................................................ 9.2-10 9.2.2.3 Hydropower................................................................................................... 9.2-12 9.2.2.4 Geothermal.................................................................................................... 9.2-14 9.2.2.5 Biomass, including Wood Waste and Energy Crops..................................... 9.2-16 9.2.2.6 Municipal Solid Wastes ................................................................................. 9.2-19 9.2.2.7 Petroleum Liquids and Synthetic Fuels......................................................... 9.2-21 9.2.2.8 Fuel Cells ...................................................................................................... 9.2-23 9.2.2.9 Coal............................................................................................................... 9.2-25 9.2.2.10 Natural Gas ................................................................................................... 9.2-28 9.2.2.11 Alternatives Requiring New Generation in Combination with Energy Storage.......................................................................................................... 9.2-30 9.2.2.11.1 Available Alternatives Requiring New Generation in Combination with Energy Storage ............................................................................................. 9.2-31 9.2.2.11.2 Energy Storage Options ................................................................................ 9.2-32 9.2.2.11.2.1 Pumped Hydropower Storage ........................................................... 9.2-33 9.2.2.11.2.2 Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES).......................................... 9.2-33 9.2.2.11.2.3 Batteries ............................................................................................ 9.2-34 9.2.2.11.2.4 Hydrogen ........................................................................................... 9.2-35 9.2.2.11.2.5 Molten Salt......................................................................................... 9.2-35 9.2.2.11.2.6 Flywheels........................................................................................... 9.2-36 9.2.2.11.2.7 Supercapacitors................................................................................. 9.2-36 9.2.2.11.2.8 Other Storage Options....................................................................... 9.2-36 9.2.2.11.3 New Generation and Energy Storage Combinations .................................... 9.2-37 9.2.2.11.3.1 Wind Power Generation in Combination with CAES ......................... 9.2-37 9.2.2.11.3.2 Solar Power Generation in Combination with Molten Salt Storage ... 9.2-41 9-i Revision 2 Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Title Page 9.2.2.11.4 Renewable Energy Sources Combined with Storage and Natural Gas Power Generation ......................................................................................... 9.2-44 9.2.2.11.4.1 Renewable Energy Sources Combined with Storage and Supplemented by Natural Gas Power Generation ............................ 9.2-45 9.2.2.11.4.2 Natural Gas Power Generation Supplemented by Renewable Energy Sources Combined with Storage........................................... 9.2-47 9.2.2.11.5 Conclusions of Combining New Generation Power Sources with Storage ... 9.2-50 9.2.3 ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE SOURCES AND SYSTEMS....................... 9.2-50 9.2.3.1 Coal-Fired Generation................................................................................... 9.2-51 9.2.3.1.1 Environmental Costs ..................................................................................... 9.2-51 9.2.3.1.1.1 Air Quality .......................................................................................... 9.2-51 9.2.3.1.1.2 Land Use ........................................................................................... 9.2-52 9.2.3.1.1.3 Ecology.............................................................................................. 9.2-53 9.2.3.1.1.4 Water Use and Quality ...................................................................... 9.2-53 9.2.3.1.1.5 Waste Management .......................................................................... 9.2-53 9.2.3.1.2 Health Effects................................................................................................ 9.2-54 9.2.3.1.3 Additional Impacts ......................................................................................... 9.2-54 9.2.3.1.3.1 Socioeconomics ................................................................................ 9.2-54 9.2.3.1.3.2 Aesthetics .......................................................................................... 9.2-55 9.2.3.1.3.3 Historic and Archaeological Resources............................................. 9.2-55 9.2.3.1.3.4 Environmental Justice ....................................................................... 9.2-55 9.2.3.1.4 Design Alternatives ....................................................................................... 9.2-55 9.2.3.1.5 Conclusion for Coal-Fired Generation........................................................... 9.2-56 9.2.3.2 Natural Gas Generation ................................................................................ 9.2-56 9.2.3.2.1 Environmental Costs ..................................................................................... 9.2-56 9.2.3.2.1.1 Air Quality .......................................................................................... 9.2-56 9.2.3.2.1.2 Land Use ........................................................................................... 9.2-57 9.2.3.2.1.3 Ecology.............................................................................................. 9.2-58 9.2.3.2.1.4 Water Use and Quality ...................................................................... 9.2-58 9.2.3.2.1.5 Waste Management .......................................................................... 9.2-59 9.2.3.2.2 Health Effects................................................................................................ 9.2-59 9.2.3.2.3 Additional Impacts ......................................................................................... 9.2-59 9.2.3.2.3.1 Socioeconomics ................................................................................ 9.2-60 9.2.3.2.3.2 Aesthetics .......................................................................................... 9.2-60 9.2.3.2.3.3 Historic and Archaeological Resources............................................. 9.2-60 9.2.3.2.3.4 Environmental Justice ....................................................................... 9.2-61 9.2.3.2.4 Design Alternatives ....................................................................................... 9.2-61 9.2.3.2.5 Conclusion for Gas-Fired Generation............................................................ 9.2-61 9.2.3.3 Combination of Alternatives .......................................................................... 9.2-61 9.2.3.3.1 Determination of Alternatives ........................................................................ 9.2-62 9.2.3.3.2 Environmental Impacts.................................................................................. 9.2-63 9.2.3.3.3 Health Effects................................................................................................ 9.2-64 9.2.3.3.4 Economic Comparison .................................................................................. 9.2-64 9.2.3.3.5 Summary....................................................................................................... 9.2-64 9-ii Revision 2 Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 & 4 COL Application Part 3 - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Title Page 9.2.4 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................... 9.2-64 9.2.5 REFERENCES...................................................................................................