Practice AP Environmental Science questions on wind turbines, electricity generation, energy demand, operating hours, revenue, and project calculations.
An offshore wind farm project using turbines to generate electricity is to be built along the Atlantic coast of the United States. It will be located about 13 km from the coast in water with an average depth of 10 m.
Identify and describe one potential economic effect of an offshore wind project.
Identify and describe one potential economic effect of an offshore wind project.
(2 points; 1 point for correct identification of a potential economic effect and 1 point for correct description of an identified economic effect. The description point cannot be earned without correct identification of a potential economic effect.)
Identify one potential economic effect
Describe one potential economic effect
Job creation (+)
- Jobs will be created in construction, operation, maintenance, etc.
Additional income (+)
- Local municipalities receive more taxes (income, sales, property) paid by utility and workers
Decreased electricity
costs (+)
- Electrical production costs will be lower, which will reduce electricity rates for consumers
Less reliance on foreign energy resources (+)
- Transportation costs to deliver fuels will be reduced
High initial construction/ high maintenance costs
(-)
- Local taxes/fees/rates will increase to support construction costs associated with building of facility
- Parts and personnel must be transported off-shore for
construction, repairs and maintenance
Decreased property
value (-)
- Property values will decrease in coastal areas due to unfavorable
aesthetics
Loss of income (-)
- Turbines negatively affect the aesthetics, which negatively
impacts tourism, fishing, whale watching, etc.
Job loss (-)
- Jobs will be lost in the traditional energy production sectors (coal, nuclear)
Subsidies cost (-)
- State subsidies to offset cost of building offshore and transmission lines to coast will increase; costs may be recovered with increased taxes
Calculate how much electricity (in MWh) the wind project needs to generate per year in order to provide 80\% of the annual electrical demand in the service area. Show all work.
Calculate how much electricity (in MWh) the wind project needs to generate per year in order to provide 80\% of the annual electrical demand in the service area. Show all work.
(2 points; 1 point for the correct setup and 1 point for the correct answer)
Customers in the service area pay $0.20/kWh for electricity. Calculate how much revenue will be produced if the wind turbines provide 80\% of the annual electrical demand in the service area. Show all work.
(2 points; 1 point for the correct setup and 1 point for the correct answer)
Assuming all turbines are operating, calculate how many hours the wind turbines must operate to provide 80\% of the annual electrical demand in the service area. Show all work.
(2 points; 1 point for the correct setup and 1 point for the correct answer)