Executive Summary

The Northwest corner of New Mexico is brimming with natural wonders and man-made pollutants. Our project, Local Power Plant Follies, started out trying to link the creation of the Arizona Power Service (APS) and the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) power plants with global warming. However, our project developed slightly differently. It now involves how far sulfur dioxide (SO 2) emissions travel and what effects the proposed Desert Rock power plant will have on our already polluted atmosphere.

We chose to focus on SO2 emissions because SO2 causes acid precipitation, which can affect the earth and wildlife negatively. Also, sulfur dioxide’s main sources are coal-fired power plants like the two in our area. The APS power plant emits 35,000  tons of SO2  per year. The PNM power plant emits 15,000 tons. According to the Farmington Daily Times, the proposed Desert Rock will emit about 5,000 tons per year.

Our StarLogo program has been a great visual model for SO2 dispersion. It shows the two power plants emitting SO2        and then the Desert Rock power plant is added. This shows that the pollution in the area increases by ten percent after the addition. Using sliders that show wind direction and speed, you can change dispersion rates and direction.

Pollution from the power plants can travel tremendous distances. According to our calculations we have found that emissions can travel 1.46 miles per foot of chimney. This means that pollution can travel between 365 and 554.8 miles on a windy day.

Power Plant Follies has taught us a great deal. We know now how building a new power plant would affect our atmosphere and how greatly the pollution can travel. We should not be building a new power plant that would increase pollution, but be investing in alternate energy providers such as windmills. We hope this project will inform others about the negative effects of building a coal-fired power plant. Even if you do not have a power plant in your area, you are still receiving pollution from hundreds of miles away.