in North Dakota

Clips

Al Gore’s super catastrophe called global warming says we need to stop using fossil fuels within the next ten years. What are fossil fuels? How are fossil fuels used? What are our alternatives? How costly will these alternatives be? Is global warming real?

List as many things as you can in 30 seconds that use electricity in your home. ENERGY IN NORTH DAKOTAENERGY IN NORTH DAKOTA

What did you come up with? Do you need these items to survive? ENERGY IN NORTH DAKOTAENERGY IN NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota Energy Trail

Types of Energy Nonrenewable Coal, Natural Gas, Oil Renewable Wind, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Solar ENERGY IN NORTH DAKOTAENERGY IN NORTH DAKOTA

What is coal? How was coal made? What do we use coal for? NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

For millions of years, a layer of dead plants at the bottom of the swamps was covered by layers of water and dirt, trapping the energy of the dead plants. The heat and pressure from the top layers helped the plant remains turn into what we today call coal. Source: National Energy Education Development Project (Public Domain) NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

The major uses of coal are: A.) Electric Power used to create almost half of all electricity generated in the United States B.) Industry plastics tar fertilizers medicines steel NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

Classifying Coal Coal is classified into 4 categories or ranks Classifying coal depends on: a.) how it responds to increasing heat and pressure b.) how much carbon it contains Carbon - A naturally abundant, nonmetallic element that occurs in all organic compounds and can be found in all known forms of life. a.) is a major constituent of coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Coal is made largely of carbon but also includes elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

Contains about 35% moisture Contains a fair amount of ash Breaks apart easily Contains 25-35% carbon Brownish-black in color Most is mined in Texas and North Dakota Lignite NONRENEWABLE ENERGY Classifying Coal

Less moisture than lignite Dull black color Contains 35-45% carbon Most found in western US and Alaska Subbituminous Classifying Coal NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

Contains very little moisture Has a high heat value Contains 45-86% carbon Most plentiful type of coal in the US West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania are the largest producers Bituminous Classifying Coal NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

Hardest type of coal Lowest moisture and ash content Contains 86-98% carbon Highest heating value Most are found in northeastern Pennsylvania Anthracite Classifying Coal NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

Residential Average Retail Price of Electricity :  New York  cents/kilowatt hour  Minnesota  9.65 cents/kilowatt hour  North Dakota  7.18 cents /kilowatt hour NONRENEWABLE ENERGY US Rank: ND is the LOWEST because of low-cost, coal-fired electricity

Mining companies and power plants in part through technology help to minimize any effect on our environment through various measures, including: Air Monitoring Emissions Control Land Reclamation Fly Ash Control Water Treatment and Conservation NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

North Dakota Strip Mined Lands Act Grade spoils to accommodate farm machinery Save and replace topsoil Mined lands must be returned to 100% of pre-mine productivity ▫R▫Reclamation laws in North Dakota are stricter than Federal reclamation laws. History of Coal Mine Regulations in ND NONRENEWABLE ENERGY D i d y o u k n o w … … N o r t h D a k o t a h a s o v e r a n y e a r s u p p l y o f c o a l ?

How is coal use made cleaner? 1.Devices called scrubbers, used in power plants, remove more than 90% of the sulfur dioxide emissions from the burning process a)The scrubbers clean sulfur from the smoke before it leaves the smokestacks. 2.Research on carbon capture is underway a)Carbon capture separates carbon dioxide from emissions sources NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

History of the Clean Air Act 1955 – Air Pollution Control Act ▫ First federal air pollution legislation ▫ Funded research on pollution 1963 – Clean Air Act ▫ Created a national program to address air pollution 1967 – Air Quality Act ▫ Created measures of enforcement for air pollution breeches 1970 – Clean Air Act ▫ Created National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and other guidelines (which we still use) ▫ Increased enforcement authority ▫ Controlled motor vehicle emissions 1977 – Clean Air Act Amendment ▫ Minor changes to NAAQS 1990 – Clean Air Act Amendment ▫ Controlled toxic pollutants ▫ Established permits to emit certain pollutants ▫ Expanded enforcement and NAAQS ▫ Established a program to phase out chemicals that deplete the ozone layer NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

North Dakota is one of only 13 states in the nation that meets all of EPA's strict federal ambient air quality standards. The 13 states include: Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington & Maine NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

AdvantagesDisadvantages Affordable Limited supply as a non- renewable resource Reliable Environmental concerns Technology, science and legislation is advancing to diminish concerns Abundant Coal Coal continues to be a valuable energy resource although questions are being raised about its sustainability in the future as a non-renewable resource, as well as it’s environmental effects. Despite these concerns, coal technology continues to advance and strive to reduce emissions while increasing efficiency. NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

How was oil and natural gas formed?

NONRENEWABLE ENERGY Oil Crude oil is a yellow-to-black liquid and is usually found in underground areas called reservoirs. After the crude oil is removed from the ground, it is sent to a refinery. At a refinery, the crude oil is separated into useable petroleum products. What are some products made from crude oil? Did you know… …crude oil can be “sweet” or “sour”? It is called “sweet” when it contains only a small amount of sulfur and “sour” if it contains a lot of sulfur.

Crude oil is measured in barrels. What’s in a barrel of oil? The world uses millions of barrels of oil each day NONRENEWABLE ENERGY Oil What’s in a barrel of oil?

NONRENEWABLE ENERGY AdvantagesDisadvantages Affordable Limited supply as a non- renewable resource Readily available Effect on fuel costs Efficient Environmental concerns of oil extraction and transportation continue to be a debated topic Oil

NONRENEWABLE ENERGY Natural Gas The main ingredient in natural gas is methane, a gas (or compound) composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. D i d y o u k n o w … … n a t u r a l g a s i s c o l o r l e s s, o d o r l e s s, a n d s h a p e l e s s i n i t ’ s p u r e f o r m. A c h e m i c a l c a l l e d m e r c a p t a n i s a d d e d b e f o r e d i s t r i b u t i o n, t o g i v e i t a n u n p l e a s a n t o d o r, l i k e r o t t e n e g g s t o s e r v e a s a s a f e t y d e v i c e i f t h e r e w o u l d h a p p e n t o b e a l e a k.

NONRENEWABLE ENERGY Natural Gas How is natural gas used? Natural gas accounts for about a quarter of the energy used in the United States. □ About one-third goes to residential and commercial uses ex.) heating and cooking □ One-third to industrial uses □ One-third to electric power production □ Only about one-tenth of 1% is used for transportation fuel.

NONRENEWABLE ENERGY Natural Gas AdvantagesDisadvantages Affordable Limited supply as a non- renewable resource Safely stored and burned Tends to be more expensive compared to other non-renewable resources Convenient and efficient source of energy for heating and electricity generation Less concentrated form of energy compared to other non-renewable resources

NONRENEWABLE ENERGY Natural Gas Dakota Gasification Company, owns and operates the Great Plains Synfuels Plant, a coal gasification complex near Beulah, ND. The Synfuels Plant is the only commercial-scale coal gasification plant in the United States that manufactures synthetic natural gas from coal.

Some forms of renewable energy alternatives in North Dakota are: ▫ Biomass ▫ Wind ▫ Geothermal ▫ Hydroelectric ▫ Solar RENEWABLE ENERGY

How is it used? most commonly used as a fuel for combustion to generate steam to run turbines or generate electricity. Why Bioenergy? creates additional value in agriculture, forestry, and other industries reduces landfill expenses by disposing of volume waste Biomass – residue of living plant material Ex.) crop residue, wood materials, plants, trees, animal waste, industrial waste, etc

RENEWABLE ENERGY Bioethanol – ethanol made from cellulosic biomass materials instead of feedstocks Ex.) trees, grasses, etc Biomass Ethanol – alcohol-based alternative fuel E-10 (10% ethanol & 90% gasoline) E-85 (85% ethanol & 15% gasoline) Ex.) corn, sugar beets, sugar cane, wheat, barley

RENEWABLE ENERGY Biomass Drawbacks Biomass needs great amounts of land and water needed to grow enough plants to provide all the energy required by the global population. Biomass can not replace fossil fuels completely because it would not be able to keep up with the food and energy demands of a growing global population.

RENEWABLE ENERGY Wind What is wind power? utilizing the wind and changing it into a usable form of energy What causes wind? Land and water absorb and release different amounts of heat from the sun. As the warm air rises, cooler air rushes in to take its place. The earth’s rotation bends the flow of air.

RENEWABLE ENERGY Wind Farmer’s and rural homesteads have been using wind energy for many years to pump water from wells using “windmills” like the picture below. Today, the wind is also used to make energy using “wind turbines”. As an industry, wind energy is growing rapidly. The U.S. installed capacity has grown to 5 times what it was in 1999.

RENEWABLE ENERGY How does a Wind Turbine work? When the wind blows the blades on the turbine spin. The blades of the turbine are attached to the hub that is mounted on a turning shaft. The shaft goes through a gearbox where the turning speed is increased. The gearbox is attached to a high speed shaft which turns a generator that makes electricity. The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to a substation, then on to homes, business and schools

RENEWABLE ENERGY Wind Power Drawbacks The wind blows all over the earth, however it is NOT windy all the time creating a problem with wind turbines. Bird deaths occur due to collisions with the turbines, and bat deaths occur because of air pressure changes the turbines cause. Many people don’t like the loud noises the wind turbines produce. Turbines change the look of the landscape.

RENEWABLE ENERGY Geothermal “geo” means earth “thermal” means heat So, what does “geothermal” mean? CORRECT! earth-heat

Geothermal Below the crust of the earth, the top layer of the mantle is a hot liquid rock called magma. When the magma breaks through the surface of the earth in a volcano, it is called lava. When you go below ground, the temperature of the rock increases. EGG EARTH Shell Yolk White Crust Mantle Core

RENEWABLE ENERGY Geothermal – a pump system can use the constant temperature of the earth to heat or cool buildings. Pipes are buried in the ground near the building and are filled with water and an antifreeze like fluid which is circulated throughout. Heating Heat from the warmer ground goes through the heat exchanger of a heat pump, which then sends warm air into the building. Cooling During warmer weather, the process is reversed and hot air from the building goes through the heat exchanger and the heat is passed into the relatively cooler ground.

RENEWABLE ENERGY Geothermal Energy Drawbacks High installation cost Disturbance to your landscape because of extensive trenching. Using copper pipes to circulate refrigerant which can corrode over time, leading to leaks that are hard to locate.

RENEWABLE ENERGY Hydroelectric - making electricity from water power Process: Water behind the dam flows through the intake and into a pipe, which is called a penstock. Water pushes against the blades in a turbine, making them turn. Turbines spins a generator to produce electricity.

RENEWABLE ENERGY Hydroelectric

RENEWABLE ENERGY Hydroelectric Drawbacks Requires a large amount of land to store the water needed to produce electricity Disrupts aquatic ecosystems High initial building cost

RENEWABLE ENERGY Solar We use the sun’s energy everyday in many different ways. Can you think of some examples?

RENEWABLE ENERGY Solar What is solar energy? It’s energy made by the sun, reaching us as heat and light. How does it work? 1.) Chemically treated silicon wafers absorb the sunlight. 2.) An electric current is produced and transferred to a metal grid. 3.) This electricity can be used directly or stored in batteries.

RENEWABLE ENERGY Solar There are two types of solar space heating systems: 1.) Passive Systems – heat directly from sunshine, no mechanical equipment is needed Ex.) large windows facing the south to heat buildings 2.) Active Systems – requires a collector to absorb and collect solar radiation Ex.) pumps are used to circulate the heated air

RENEWABLE ENERGY Solar Energy Drawbacks A large surface area is required to collect the energy at a useful rate. All the facilities in the entire world only make enough solar cells to produce electricity for 300,000 people. Cost of producing solar energy is 4 times more expensive than a power plant. The amount of sunlight that arrives at the Earth's surface is not constant. It depends on location, time of day, time of year, and weather conditions.

Price Comparison of Nonrenewable and Renewable Energy Sources In cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) ▫H▫Hydro ▫C▫Coal ▫G▫Geothermal ▫N▫Nuclear ▫N▫Natural Gas ▫B▫Biomass ▫W▫Wind ▫S▫Solar (Thermal) ▫S▫Solar (Photovoltaic)

“No other energy resource comes close to the power of coal. Replacing coal would take: more 1,800 times more solar than we have today constant 2.5 million wind turbines and constant wind 1,150 nuclear plants 2,250 large hydro plants. All of these sources are important. Yet they cannot match the scale of coal.”