TY - JOUR
T1 - Energy as a driver of change in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin
AU - Kelly, Brianne
AU - Keeler, Bonnie
AU - Helm, Gary
AU - Krantzberg, Gail
AU - Lyon, Thomas
AU - Mabee, Warren
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 International Association for Great Lakes Research.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Energy is an important driver of change in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin, having a large impact on the environment and the economy. Demand for energy in the basin over the past 50. years has been met by a mix of sources, mainly coal, oil, conventional natural gas, nuclear, and hydropower. However, in the last decade there has been a shift towards an increased capacity in renewable energy production and unconventional natural gas. Each energy source has a unique set of social, economic and environmental impacts. Understanding these impacts is imperative for the continued development of the basin energy sector in a way that minimizes negative impacts. In this article, we review trends in energy use in the basin over the past 50. years, while highlighting recent developments in wind-derived electricity and unconventional natural gas. We examine the impacts of energy production and use on other drivers of change in the basin with an emphasis on the energy-water-climate nexus. While focusing on the pivotal role of government policy, we outline three alternative future scenarios for the energy sector in the basin along with their likely impacts. We also present key challenges that the basin may face over the next 50. years as the energy sector develops. Recommendations to facilitate the development of the energy sector in the basin while minimizing negative impacts on other drivers are given.
AB - Energy is an important driver of change in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin, having a large impact on the environment and the economy. Demand for energy in the basin over the past 50. years has been met by a mix of sources, mainly coal, oil, conventional natural gas, nuclear, and hydropower. However, in the last decade there has been a shift towards an increased capacity in renewable energy production and unconventional natural gas. Each energy source has a unique set of social, economic and environmental impacts. Understanding these impacts is imperative for the continued development of the basin energy sector in a way that minimizes negative impacts. In this article, we review trends in energy use in the basin over the past 50. years, while highlighting recent developments in wind-derived electricity and unconventional natural gas. We examine the impacts of energy production and use on other drivers of change in the basin with an emphasis on the energy-water-climate nexus. While focusing on the pivotal role of government policy, we outline three alternative future scenarios for the energy sector in the basin along with their likely impacts. We also present key challenges that the basin may face over the next 50. years as the energy sector develops. Recommendations to facilitate the development of the energy sector in the basin while minimizing negative impacts on other drivers are given.
KW - Energy-water-climate nexus
KW - Renewable energy
KW - Unconventional natural gas
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84924059201&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84924059201&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jglr.2014.11.019
DO - 10.1016/j.jglr.2014.11.019
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84924059201
SN - 0380-1330
VL - 41
SP - 59
EP - 68
JO - Journal of Great Lakes Research
JF - Journal of Great Lakes Research
IS - S1
ER -