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WCU - Western Carolina University Publications

Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Item 1 - Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13
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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Item 2 - Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13
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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Item 3 - Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13
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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Item 4 - Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13
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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Item 8 - Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13
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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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Western Carolinian Volume 62 Number 13

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  • (Pje Western Carolinian Environment Thursday, November 1419% 9 Polluting Power Plants ADAM RIGGSBEE ENVIRONMENT EDITOR The Department of Energy (DOE) has released a paper explaining the effects of fossil-fired electric power plants on acid rain, ozone pollution and the possibility of climate change. The research was done in response to the Energy Policy Act ofl992 (EPACT), which required DOE to "develop a least-cost national energy strategy that considers the economic, energy, environmental, and social costs of various energy technologies." The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified six common "criteria air pollutants" that can be found all over the United States: volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx ), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (S02 ), and lead. After the establishment of this list for the Clean Air Act of 1970, the EPA was given the authority to set the limits on these pollutants for American industry. Fossil-fired electric power plants produce all of these pollutants as by-products of energy generation. The emissions of power plants come from the pletely combusted, the byproducts are C02 and water. Although complete combustion is rare because of economic efficiency, it offers mofe electrical output. Incomplete combustion releases smoke particles (mainly carbon) and CO. During combustion, atmospheric nitrogen and fuel- bound nitrogen react with oxygen to produce nitrogen oxide. (About 78 percent of air is nitrogen.) The production of sulphur dioxide is the result of the fuel and control equipment used, rather than the combustion process. Sulphur is present in virtually all coals and fuel oils, which is oxidized during combustion to form S02. Electrical power plants are responsible for a small portion of the particulate emissions because of control devices, such as baghouse filters and electrostatic precipitators, which remove particles from emission gases. These power plants are similarly responsible for a small portion of the total emissions of VOCs, CO, and N20. On the other hand, the electrical power plants are responsible for 72 percent of the total S02 emissions, 35 percent of the total carbon dioxide (C02), and 33 percent of the acid rain, which is rain, fog, snow or mist that is at an acidic level. Normal rain water is slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.6; acid rain is defined as any precipitation with a pH of 5.5 or lower. Chemical analysis of acid rain shows the major elements of its composition are nitric acid and sulfuric acid. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen, oxides (the presence of which is partially due to electric power plant emissions) slowly react with water vapors, producing acidic precipitation. The EPA found the eastern United States to have the most acidic rainfall in the U.S. The acid rain contributes to the acidification #f hundreds of streams, which is believed to be responsible for the fish and invertebrate populations in these streams emd the bodies of water to which they contribute. Field studies have also implicated ,acid rain in the demise of spruce-fir forests in the Appalachians. Ozone pollution is another problem generated by electrical power plants that utilize fossil fuels. In the presence of sunlight, the NOx (the majority of which are produced by the power plants) react with VOCs to form ozone. Strong concentrations Death at the Belk Building PHOTO BY SETH SAMS/WC Tombstones mark the graves of 14 birds killed at the Belk Building. known to result in "transient respiratory problems... as well as the irritation of eyes and mucous membranes." High ozone concentrations seem to be more damaging than low, consistent levels. Carlin suggests that "tighter controls on NOx may be more effective in controlling ozone..." This is because VOCs can be by-products of biological operations and can react with man-made NOx. Global climate change has been attributed to the increase in "greenhouse gases" such as water vapor, carbon dioxide (C02), methane (CH4 ), diation into outer space, and the absorbed energy is re-radiated to the Earth's surface in the form of heat. Some scientists believe that as the concentration of these gases in the Earth's atmosphere increases, so does the temperature. The levels of C02 and N20 are directly influenced by the fuel used and the amount of the electricity generated. The higher the carbon content, the more C02 that is produced. Coal is the highest; natural gas has about 80 percent as much, carbon as coal, and oil has about 60 percent. Currently, tary agreement with DOE "to pursue voluntary reductions in . emissions of greenhouse gases and DOE completed draft guidelines for utilities to report emission reductions voluntarily." Many organizations are calling for a more environmentally efficient energy source. The fossil-fired power plants contribute to environmental problems that a more renewable resource such as solar electricity would not produce. As t\e 'DCfti imisYves up its research on renewable energy sources, many wait and ■ '1 I I I I I I [I I I ;■ i !! !! il I i« il il I il I il :i Work faster with it. Power Macintosh* 5400 120 MHZ/16MB RAM/1.6GB/8X CD-ROM 15" built-in display/keyboard Now $1,717 (or $32/mo.)* Simplify your life with it. Communicate to the world with it. Have fun with it. Power Macintosh* 8500 150 MHZ/16MB RAM/1.2GB/HX CD-ROM 17". display/keyboard Now $3,599 (or $66/mo.) Power Macintosh* 7200 120 MHz/l&iB RAM/1.2GB/8X CD-ROM 15'' display/keyboard Now $1,976 (or $37/mo.) Get $150 back with it. Check out Apple's Holiday Savings. Right now Apple Computer is it, offering a $150 rebate when you purchase a Macintosh'personal computer and an Apple" printer. Fact is, your timing couldn't be better to get your Mac," a machine that features some of the world's most innovative technology. And it's easier to use than anything you'll encounter in your class schedule. So get to your campus computer store and pick out your Mac. It'll help keep you ahead in your classes (or at least tied). And right now, you'll come out $150 ahead on the price. WCU Computer Store located in the Bookstore Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (704) 227-7346 Apple' Style Writer* 1200 Now $194 Apple' Color StyleWriter* 1500 Now $259 Apple* Color StyleWriter* 2500 Now $344 Apple' Personal LaserWriter* 300 Now $472 Offer expires January 19,1997 No payment of interest or principal will be requiredJor 90 days Interest accruing during this 90-day period will be added to tbe principal and will bear interest, which will be included in the repayment schedule For example, the month of October, 19%had an interest rale of 12.15% with an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of l}9i%. 'A monthly payment of til'.97for the Power Mac 5400 system is an estimate based on a total loan amount of S1861.70, which includes a sample purchase price of $1,717 and a 6% loan origination fee. Interest is variable based on the Prime Rale as reported on the 5tb business day of the month in The Vail Street Journal, plus a spread of 39% The Apple Computer Loan has an 8-year loan term with no prepayment penalty and is subject to credit approval. Monthly payments may vary depending on actual computer system prices, total loan amounts, state and local sales taxes and a change in tbe monthly variable interest rate. ©1996 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Macintosh, Performa, Power Macintosh and StyleWriter are registered trademarks of Affile Computer, Inc. Apple mail-in rebate offer validfrom November 2,1996, through January 19,1997, while supplies last and subject to availability. » qualify for rebate, printer, computer and an Apple monitor (if sold separately) must be purchased on tbe same invoice. Offer good on any Macintosh desktop computer with any Apple printer. Void where prohibited by km. See participating reseller•for further rules and details. Ml Macintosh computers are designed to be accessible to individuals with disability, lb learn more (U.S. only), call 800-600-7808 or TTY 800-755-0601 il I :', •11 » * I
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Western Carolina University Publications

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University’s student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolin...

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