AP Enviro Science Class Visits PSE&G Plant

5/20/2013

[Portions of this article contributed by Don McNeil, Upper School science teacher.]

To cap off his Advanced Placement Environmental Science course this school year, Upper School science teacher Don McNeil recently accompanied his class of juniors and seniors to visit the PSEG Hudson Generating Station power plant in Jersey City. The purpose of the trip was to give his students a firsthand look at how electricity is produced, what some of the environmental impacts of that production are, and how various technologies are implemented to limit those impacts. The visit, which was the third time McNeil has taken a class after last year's and in 2002, also helps students appreciate the large scale involved with producing electricity for a densely populated urban area.

Throughout the year, the AP Environmental Science class has learned about the major ways of producing electricity, their respective environmental impacts, and the technologies and practices that can limit those impacts. During the visit, they learned more about a number of technologies already studied - boiler, turbine, generator, electrostatic precipitator, baghouse, scrubbers, mercury removal, bar screens to keep fish out of the cooling water, etc.

"Visiting the Hudson Generating Station was a very interesting and important experience for the students," said McNeil. "Coal and natural gas produce over half of our electricity, and it is essential that our students fully understand how that process works - not only from textbooks and class notes, but from firsthand experience visiting such a facility. A major goal of the course is for them to become well-informed on all aspects of energy use, production and policy. Knowledgeable citizens can make sound decisions about energy policy and managing our resources so we can produce the energy we need and minimize the impacts on climate change, air pollution and water quality. I was also very impressed by and very appreciative of the time the PSEG staff took out of their busy schedule to show us around and explain all aspects of the plant operation. Their explanations were clear, thorough and complete, and well-targeted for our college-bound science students, some of whom may pursue careers related to engineering, energy and the environment."

Here's what six AP Environmental Science students had to say about the trip:

"Previously we learned in class that burning coal was the major source of pollutant emission, doing great harm to the environment as well as human health. But the PSEG power plant we visited totally changed our views on the facilities using coal to generate electricity. What the PSEG Power Plant impressed me most was the highly efficient way it applied to make the burning coal process environmentally friendly. It largely reduces the emission of NOx, SO2, and particulates with the use of various appliances such as precipitators. And a number of years ago, it became one of the cleanest power plants in the U.S."

"I think the more you know about the coal plant, the less optimistic you get about the renewable energy. How much we rely on coal energy is immense, and it will be hard for renewable energy sources to replace that. It was also much dirtier than I thought, which indicates the environmental issues of coal. It is hard to judge whether using coal is a bad or a good thing."

"I was able to relate what I learned in class to what I saw at the coal plant. It was interesting and refreshing to learn of how hard the members at the coal plant worked to make sure that their carbon footprint was lowered. The facilities were clean and well-kept, and I was intrigued by all the different systems that had to be monitored in order for the plant to be working efficiently. The most shocking thing I learned on this trip was that the huge pile of coal located right on the exterior of the plant could only last for 57 days. It put into perspective how much coal is used every year. This trip was both informational and enjoyable."

"The presentation was very informative and answered all our questions. They really broke down the process of the steps of the plant and even showed us samples. It was really cool to go around the plant and go into the control room."

"It was interesting to see that great transformation that PSEG has made over the past couple years to become one of the leaders in clean energy. Understanding how we get our power and how much natural gas and coal is used in order to provide our electricity has made me much more conscientious of the amount of energy I use. It was interesting to hear that the amount of electricity that the plant produces in an hour could supply a town for an entire year."

"When our bus first entered the gates of the facility, I was impressed with the massive size of everything. I really enjoyed riding the elevator to the top of the boiler, and was in awe of the amount of coal. I was shocked that the pile of coal was not for a year's worth of electricity but just over a month!!! The tour guides were very well-informed and it was clear that they are very passionate about PSEG. I was also very pleased to learn how PSEG is trying to become more and more environmentally friendly and have spent over 1 billion dollars trying to do so! I hope many more future D-E students can have this awesome experience."

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AP Enviro Science Class Visits PSE&G Plant