FOSSIL FUELS 85% of the world’s commercial energy COAL OILNATURAL GAS

20 richest countries consume: 50% of coal 80% of natural gas 65% of oil

U.S. energy consumption 9%

COAL Fossilized, condensed carbon-rich fuel 10 X reserves of oil/gas, last 200 years at present rate

Coal mines Surface (strip) mine, Western U.S. Underground (shaft) mine, Eastern U.S.

Coal cheaper, but polluting Much Eastern U.S. coal has high-sulfur content, more expensive to mine Much Western U.S. coal has low-sulfur content, cheaper to mine But mining in semi-arid West more damaging to land.

Heat value of coal types Anthracite Bituminous Subbituminous Lignite 51% of U.S. use in coal

Energy lost from coal 10% lost on transmission lines (stray voltage) 65% lost in power plants

Effects on health Black Lung Disease (miners) Respiratory illnesses (public)

Effects on land Coal sludge releases Hardpan at strip mines Mountaintop removal Huge water use –Slurry pipelines

Effects on air Greenhouse gases –3/4 sulfur dioxide –1/3 nitrogen oxides –1/2 carbon dioxide Toxics –Mercury –Uranium

Acid rain

Acidity of rain pH of 6.0 –Kills insects, crabs pH < 5.0 –Kills fish, trees

Sources of Nitrogen Oxides Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide create acid rain Tall stacks deposit farther

Coal scrubbers

The future? Hydrogen fuel cells

NATURAL GAS Methane, other Gases in bedrock

Advantages of natural gas Cleaner to burn –Half as much CO2 as coal More efficient –10% energy lost 60-year supply at current rates

Disadvantages of natural gas Difficult to transport –Pipelines –Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) tankers Can be polluting, dangerous when extracted Methane bed drilling pollutes

OIL (PETROLEUM) Buried organic matter rich in hydrocarbons

Oil Consumption by Sector (1998)

Proven oil reserves 465 billion barrels consumed 1 trillion barrels left 22 billion consumed a year 45 years to go! Party now!

Global Oil Production for Resources of 1800, 2200, and 2600 Billion Barrels

Distribution of Estimates of Ultimately Recoverable World Crude Oil ( )

World Crude Oil Production

World Crude Oil Prices (economic crises in oil states)

Global trends in oil Growing use in China (+10%/year) Japan, Europe depend on Mideast New reserves around Caspian Sea –Nearly size of Saudi Arabia Increasing source of major wars, human rights abuses

Kuwait oil well fires, 1991

Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea

Oil & natural gas pipelines

U.S. trends in oil Diverse sources (not Mideast) –Venezuela, Nigeria, etc. Opening domestic sources –Alaska controversy Polluting technologies? –Oil shale extraction –Synthetic fuels (coal-to-oil)

Exxon Valdez, Alaska 1989

Attempts to contain spill

Clean-up efforts

Prince William Sound fishing industry damaged

Oil in Ecuador Ecuador 2nd largest S. America producer –70% of exports Drilling in Amazon rainforest

Opposition to oil companies Construction of roads, pipelines on Indian lands Displacement of Indians, deforestation Oil leaks into rivers larger than Valdez spill

Ecuador Indian occupations Texaco withdrew 1992, Arco met demands Lawsuit against Texaco in U.S. courts, 1999

Oil in Nigeria Largest producer in Africa, mainly In Niger Delta Nigeria had military governments in 1990s

Environmental problems in Niger Delta region Homeland of Ogoni, Ijaw groups Gas flaring hazards Oil spills in mangrove swamp

Ogoni environmental protests

Oil companies collude with military Many Ogoni killed by military Ogoni leader Dr. Ken Saro-Wiwa executed in 1995 Shell Oil pays, transports soldiers

Nigerian women protest, 2002 Protest against pollution, lack of local jobs Ijaw women occupy Chevron oil docks

Websites on oil industry and global opposition Rainforest Action Network Project Underground