Dania, Shana, Brian, & Mark Spring ‘05 Alternative Energy

Coal: The Ignoble Fuel

Types of Coal: Based on carbon content Brown Coal aka Lignite Hard Coal aka Black Coal

The Composition of Coal Main Elements: Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Sulfur

Coal Formation: Plant material decomposes  Peat is covered with mud and sand  Pressure Changes Peat to Coal

Coal Extraction Two Types of Mines: Surface Mines Deep Mines

Facts about coal: United States -Coal fills 23% of our energy demand -Coal represents more than 80 percent of America’s known recoverable fossil fuel reserves. -The United States has 500 billion tons of coal accessible through current production methods. Worldwide -Mined in 100 different countries on every continent except Antarctica -Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel

US Coal Production:

Coal Uses Major Uses: 1)Electric Power 2)Industry 3)Manufacturing of steel

The Down Side: Environmental Issues -Coal is the least desirable fossil fuel. -Negative pollution effects on water & air erosion, & acid rain In the US, federal laws enforce proper mine usage and restoration. Also, several acts including the Clean Air and Water Acts control the effects of coals negative externalities. Social Issues -Boomtowns -Job Dangers

Future Outlook: - At current rates, coal resources will last over a thousand years -Advances in coal mining technology will only add distance to that horizon -Increasing coal usage can lessen oil consumption

Natural Gas

History: -residential -commercial - industrial Uses: B.C. gas springs -natural fires

-colorless, shapeless, & odorless in pure form -combustible & when burned released energy -clean burning & emits lower levels of potentially harmful byproducts -combustible mixture of hydrocarbon gases Natural Gas:

Basic Compositions of Natural Gas: MethaneCH 4 ~70-90% EthaneC 2 H 6 ~0-20% PropaneC 3 H 8 ~0-20% ButaneC 4 H 10 ~0-20%

Formation & Extraction: -Found in reservoirs underneath the earth- natural gas is commonly associated with oil deposits -Formed from the remains of plants, animals & microorganisms -Production (extraction) companies search for evidence reservoirs with use of sophisticated technology- wells are then drilled

Advanced 3-D Seismic Imaging & 4-D Seismic Imaging

Total energy consumed in US: 2000 source: EIA outlook Uses of natural gas---->

Pollutant Natural Gas Oil Coal Carbon Dioxide 117, , ,000 Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen Oxides Sulfur Dioxide 1 1,122 2,591 Particulates ,744 Mercury Fossil Fuel Emission Levels (Pounds per Billion Btu of Energy Input) Source: EIA - Natural Gas Issues and Trends 1998

-cost efficient -domestically abundant -secure source of energy -relatively environmentally friendly Overview of natural gas:

OIL

Oil: A familiar & popular fossil fuel 3 phases of production: -primary - secondary -tertiary Crude oil loop----->

Products:

Oil extracting/producing nations: -Saudi Arabia -United States -Russia [FSU] -Iran -Venezuela -Iraq

Oil & the damages: Environmental: -emissions of greenhouse gasses -acid rain -addition of toxins -over consumption -unfriendly production -spills

Impacts cont. Solutions: -social & political -dependencies -economical/industrial -careful consumption & reduction -more efficient use of oil & oil products -cleaner & more environmentally responsive production methods

Future of oil & fossil fuels:

FOSSIL FUELS FOSSIL FUELS.