"All I know about thermal pollution is that if we continue our present rate of growth in electrical energy consumption it will simply take, by the year 2000, all our freshwater streams to cool the generators and reactors"
- David R. Brower
About this Quote
This quote by David R. Brower is referring to the concern of thermal pollution. Thermal pollution is the release of heated water into the environment, normally as a result of industrial activities such as power plants. Brower is alerting that if we continue to take in energy at our present rate, by the year 2000, all of our freshwater streams will be used to cool the generators and reactors. This would have a destructive result on the environment, as the heated water would disrupt the natural balance of the environment. It might also cause the extinction of specific species of fish and other water life. Brower is prompting us to take action now to reduce our energy usage and protect our freshwater streams.
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