Land

Thermal plant operations affect land largely due to the surface mining of coal. They also produce waste byproducts that can have an impact through landfill disposal.

Land use and reclamation

Most coal for thermal power plants comes from surface (strip or open pit) mines, which disturb areas of land. The main environmental effects from this land disturbance include soil erosion, dust pollution and impacts on biodiversity.

As mining operations progress, soil is removed and stockpiled to expose the coal, which is then trucked to the power plants. Once the coal has been removed in an area of the mine, land is reclaimed. The mined-out areas are re-contoured, and subsoil and topsoil are replaced on the site. The land is replanted with native species or compatible vegetation such as grain crops, hay, trees or shrubs. In each case, companies strive to restore the land to a condition equivalent or better than what existed prior to mining.

Companies must meet government standards when reclaiming mined-out areas. In Alberta, power generators can apply to the Alberta government to certify reclaimed land, signifying that it has met strict government standards in restoring lands to environmental quality and productive use.