IV-340 



As Table IV. 4. 11 indicates, overall expansion of electric generating 

 capacity for the Nation will average about 6 per cent annually 

 during the period 1959-1980. Areas of particularly rapid growth 

 include Florida, parts of the Gulf coast, Texas, and Puerto Rico. 



Modern plants being installed presently, and in the near future, 

 will be larger in unit size, thereby increasing plant efficiency, 

 but concentrating heat effects to a significant degree. Hydro- 

 electric power generation, with the exception of the Pacific 

 Northwest, is projected to decline in importance. Fossil and 

 particularly nuclear power generation will expand tremendously to 

 meet expected demands. It is estimated, for example, that by 

 1975 about half of the generation capacity will be nuclear fueled. 



The growth of nuclear power is significant, not only because of the 

 large unit size (800 megawatts or larger), but because they must 

 presently operate at lower, and therefore, less efficient temper- 

 atures. In sum, it will take more heat to generate a given amount 

 of electrical energy in the future, and more of that heat will 

 have to be dissipated somehow into cooling waters. Figure IV. 4. 18 

 gives an indication of the growth of new nuclear generating plants 

 to 1973. 



Although the actual future number of fossil and nuclear plants 

 located on the coasts and estuaries of the United States is unknown, 

 an indication of future thermal alteration potential is provided 



