Legal, ethical, and environmental consequences

NOTES:

We need to be aware of a variety of legal, ethical, and environmental issues

related to the generation, conversion and transmission of energy.

This issue relates to individual homes as well as on a global scale. Some

examples are: disposing of batteries, global warming, inefficient incandescent
light bulbs.

Every kind of generation, conversion, and transmission has some legal,

ethical, and environmental issue related to it.

Even alternative energy sources can have negative environmental effects.

Wind farms in western Canada are affecting: wildlife (rare species of bats,
birds), humans (low frequency noise damage), and aesthetics. Ice buildup on
blades during winter months can fly off and cause property damage or injury.
Communities can be displaced and natural vegetation can be destroyed.

Hydroelectric reservoirs cause rotting vegetation which produces significant

amounts of green house gases. In some cases the destruction of sacred
native lands have caused disputes with native cultures (Three Gorges Dam,
China, James Bay Project, Quebec).

Geothermal energy can cause noise pollution, dissolved solids in steam

quickly erode pipes, natural steams contain many green house gases, not
easily transported

Student Activity (add to site):

Chose 1 of the following activities to complete:
1. Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper from the perspective of a cabin
owner in Come By Chance who has to abandon his cabin and hunting areas due the
construction of a new oil refinery.
2. In Letter format to whom it concerns, Complete the following statement: I do not
agree with building hydro electric transmission lines through a national park area
because...
3. List some of the environmental, ethical and legal impacts of energy creation,
conversion, transmission and consumption.

Dear Editor,
Im writing to you today to express my feelings towards
the newly started construction of a new oil refinery in Come
By Chance. Im a cabin owner here in Come By Chance and I
have grew up here and hunted here my entire life. My cabin
has been in my family for generations and has been passed
down to me by my grandfather. My cabin and this land is a
part of my family and I have never been more upset with the
government and this selfish decision that theyve made
here. I am being forced to completely abandon my cabin and
hunting grounds surrounding it and I am not happy with it.
They plan to construct a new oil refinery here on my
land. This is going to completely devastate the forest and all
of the habitats. There are moose, partridges, deer, robins
and so many more species that are going to be left without a
home. The government only cares about money in this
situation and is not considering the fate of all of these plants
and animals that are going to be wiped out. Imagine all of
the pollution which will be caused here by this disgusting,
selfish decision that our money-hungry government has
decided to do.
It is so unfair for them to force me to abandon my cabin
and hunting grounds. It has belonged to my family for
decades and it means so much to our family and I have so
many vivid memories from my childhood being spent at the
cabin. I am also going to lose out on so much money from
losing my cabin. They are going to give me nothing! My
family and I are already struggling enough, its so upsetting
to see yet another weight coming to lay on my shoulders.
I think that they should re-think the decision of the
construction of a new oil refinery in Come By Chance.
Thank you