RESOURCE TYPEEXAMPLES Nonrenewable Potentially Renewable Renewable

Our country contains 5% of the world’s population but uses 25% of the world’s energy. – 93% of our energy sources are nonrenewable (= fossil fuels).

COAL Solid fossil fuel Mostly carbon Uses: Electricity generation**, manufacturing steel

Forms as the remains of swamp plants are buried and subjected to high temperatures and pressure over millions of years.

Obtaining Coal… Coal must be mined Mining is dangerous and labor-intensive Can be surface or subsurface mines.

Once mined, coal is taken to a processing plant where it is crushed, washed to remove impurities, dried and shipped.

Where is coal found? US has 70% of world’s deposits; Russia and China also have large amounts.

How much coal is left? Most abundant fossil fuel 900 years’ supply left at current consumption rate***

Environmental Impact Dirtiest fossil fuel – #1 for amount of air pollution Mining can pollute water supplies and destroy land. – More on that later…

PETROLEUM = OIL Liquid fossil fuel, composed of long hydrocarbon chains Uses: Fuel (transportation), heating and to manufacture plastics.

Formation: Sea plants and animals die and decompose; their remains are exposed to high temperature and pressure over millions of years.

Obtaining Oil Determine location of deposits Dig wells Pump it out Shipped to refinery for processing

Oil Deposits… 13 countries contain 70% of the world’s oil. – Saudi Arabia (26%), Iraq (10%) – Make up OPEC = Organization of Petroleum Exporting countries. – US has 2.3% of oil reserves, but uses 30% of the oil extracted. We import most of our oil.

How much oil is left? World reserves may last 50 years at current rate of usage**

Environmental Impact Releases greenhouse gases and air pollution – Moderate amount of AP compared to other fossil fuels.

Natural Gas Mixture of methane, other gases Uses: Mainly used for heating but can be used for electricity Formation: same as oil; that is why they are often found together.

Where is natural gas found? Russia has 40% of world supply US gets most of its NG from domestic supplies.

How much NG is left? World reserves will last for about 120 years at current consumption rate.

Environmental Impact Produces least amount of air pollution of all fossil fuels.

So…what are our top uses of energy in the United States?

Obtaining Fossil Fuels… Do you feel that obtaining one of the fossil fuels is more harmful to the environment than the others? – Which do you think is most harmful, fracking, drilling or mining? WHY?