Region 1: EPA New England

Environmental Impacts

What are the Environmental Issues Associated with Energy Use?

Energy use has an enormous impact on New England's air quality, water quality, climate, forests and nature habitats. Burning fossil fuels for electricity generation and transportation accounts for most of the air pollutants emitted in New England. These pollutants contribute to global climate change, unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone (smog), acid precipitation and the release of mercury into our environment. Some power plants also use and release millions of gallons of fresh or salt water for cooling each day, in the process destroying fish and fish larvae and warming local water bodies.

Topics related to fossil fuel-fired energy production facilities

• Acid Rain
• Climate Change
• In My Backyard - Power Plant/Industry Smoke Stack Emissions
• Mercury
• Ozone (Smog)
• Particulate Matter and Haze
• Permits
  • Air
  • Water
• State Implementation Plans (SIPs)