Solar, Coal, and Gas Power Plant Footprints (EPA eGRID 2012 v1), DRECP
Dataset Identification:
Resource Abstract:
Solar, coal and gas power plant footprints within the DRECP 12km buffer study area. This dataset was created for the purpose
of terrestrial intactness modeling. <br /> <br /> The polygons in this dataset represent the physical footprint of solar,
coal, and gas power plants within the DRECP 12km buffer study area. Polygons were delineated with the intent purpose of encompassing
infrastructure (e.g., buildings, solar panels) at each power plant facility as well as areas in the immediate vicinity which
appeared to be degraded from human activities. <br /> <br /> This dataset was digitized in ArcMap 10.0 using "Bing Maps
aerial imagery" provided by ESRIs Basemap Service on 2/18/2013. <br /> <br /> Power plant locations were determined using
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID2012 Version 1.0). http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/egrid/index.html
<br /> <br /> Polygons were digitized at these locations where facilities were visible in the Bing Maps imagery. <br /> <br
/> These data were downloaded in MS EXCEL format and converted to a feature class in a geodatabase. The data were then projected
to UTM and clipped to the DRECP Study Area, where they were then used to identify power plants in the Bing Maps imagery. <br
/> <br /> eGRID2012 Version 1.0 is the eighth edition of eGRID, which contains the complete release of year 2009 data, as
well as year 2007 data contained in eGRID2010 Version 1.1 that was released in May 2011, year 2005 data contained in eGRID2007
Version 1.1 that was released in January 2009, and year 2004 data contained in eGRID2006 Version 2.1 that was released in
Spring 2007. <br /> <br /> The Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) is a comprehensive source of
data on the environmental characteristics of almost all electric power generated in the United States. The preeminent source
of emissions data for the electric power sector, eGRID is based on available plant specific data for all U.S. electricity
generating plants that provide power to the electric grid and report data to the U.S. government. Data reported include generation
in megawatt-hour (MWh); resource mix (for renewable and nonrenewable generation); emissions in tons for carbon dioxide (CO2),
nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2); emissions in pounds for methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and mercury (Hg);
emission rates for CO2, NOx, and SO2 (in both pounds per megawatt-hour [lb/MWh]) and pounds per million British thermal unit
[lb/MMBtu]) and for CH4, N2O, and Hg (in pounds per gigawatthour [lb/GWh]) and Hg (in pounds per billion Btu [lb/BBtu]); heat
input in MMBtu; and nameplate capacity in megawatts (MW). eGRID reports this information on an annual basis (as well as by
ozone season for NOx emissions and emission rates, net generation and resource mix, and heat input) at different levels of
aggregation (plant, companies, and grid regions of the country). <br /> <br />
Citation
Title Solar, Coal, and Gas Power Plant Footprints (EPA eGRID 2012 v1), DRECP