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All human activity impacts the environment. The line between impacts and harms is difficult to establish. In the case of electricity generation there are several ways of generating electricity each with its own set of impacts. These are: * Thermal fired generating plants: Systems in which some material coal, gas, biomass is burned can cause thermal pollution of water ways, use water taking it away from other users, have emissions problems (soot, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides) and have waste disposal issues. Fuel sourcing may entail environmental disruption, processing, transportation and handling issues. The common problem of building the plant and infrastructure exists. * Natural Origin Thermal Power Systems: Steam is recovered from geothermal features (geysers etc.) and used to produce electricity. This is limited to specific geological formations and locations. The common problem of building the plant and infrastructure exists. * Nuclear Thermal Power Systems:Systems in which some radioactive (fissionable) material is used to heat water to steam can cause thermal pollution of water ways, use water taking it away from other users. Fuel sourcing may entail environmental disruption, processing, transportation and handling issues. Waste handling is a significant issue. The common problem of building the plant and infrastructure exists. * Hydroelectric Power Plants: Electricity is created by water pressure or water falling over a cliff. The dams and reservoirs built for these systems disrupt ecosystems over large ares including fish migration as well as being a source of methane (a greenhouse gas) due to anaerobic decomposition. In the case of waterfalls the system diverts or disrupts water flows and fish migration. The common problem of building the plant and infrastructure exists. * Solar Power Systems: Electricity is generated by banks of solar cells. Large installations may require hundreds of acres. The sourcing of materials required for construction of solar panels requires mining and manufacturing issues involving toxic materials. The common problem of building the plant and infrastructure exists. * Wave Power Systems: Electricity is generated by banks of small units powered by the oscillation of waves. Large installations may require hundreds of acres. There is fear that fish, sea mammals and navigation may be impacted by the installations. The common problem of building the plant and infrastructure exists. * Wind Power Systems:Electricity is generated by rows of wind turbines. Large installations may require hundreds of acres. The sourcing of materials required for construction of wind turbines requires mining and manufacturing issues involving toxic materials. There is fear that birds and bats may be impacted by the installations. The common problem of building the plant and infrastructure exists. * Tidal Power Systems: Electricity is created by water pressure or water collected by dikes in tidal estuaries. The dams and reservoirs built for these systems disrupt ecosystems over large areas including fish migration, as well as the diversion or disruption of water flows. The common problem of building the plant and infrastructure exists. * Fuel Cells: Oxidants and fuel are brought together in a catalytic cell to generate electricity. If the fuel is hydrogen the generation of that material requires other polluting sources. If the fuel is methane or other hydrocarbon the cell produces carbon dioxide as well as being produced in some other polluting process. The common problem of building the plant and infrastructure exists. All in all the best source for electricity is probably Natural Origin Thermal Power generation.

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