Though fairly benign in environmental impact compared to traditional power plants, OTEC poses some potential environmental threats, especially if implemented on a large scale. Data from existing electric generating stations on the coast provide insight into possible impacts of OTEC plants. These stations impact the surrounding marine environment mainly through heating the water, the release of toxic chemicals, impingement of organisms on intake screens, and entrainment of small organisms by intake pipes, all of which are concerns for OTEC.[6] Large discharges of mixed warm and cold water would be released near the surface, creating a plume of sinking cool water. The continual use of warm surface water and cold deep water may, over long periods of time, lead to slight warming at depth and cooling at the surface [3].