Oil Spill Poses Risk to Gulf Power Plants

Right now the risks of intake contamination remains low. As the length of time the gusher remains uncontrolled increases and the size of spill grows, the risk of contamination gradually moves from negligible to measurable. Electrical generation along the Gulf coast accounts for residential and commercial usage ranging from recreation to critical energy cracking facilities.

In its May 12 situation report on the BP oil spill, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) noted that there was a risk to “a number of power plants” that draw cooling water directly from the Gulf of Mexico or adjacent salt water sources. “If the water supply for these facilities becomes contaminated with oil, cooling water systems could be damaged,” the report said. It’s just one of many risks to business and infrastructure in the Gulf that could long persist even after the flow of oil is stopped.

Source: news.nationalgeographic.com