FOSSIL FUELS 85% of the world’s commercial energy COAL NATURAL GASOIL

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

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. SURFACE MINING: Strip mining, open-pit mining, and mountain top blasting. In general, the three processes include breaking up soil and rocks via explosives and then removing debris until coal seams are exposed.

Energy Lost from Coal 10% lost on transmission lines (stray voltage) 65% lost in power plants By the time energy is delivered to us in a usable form, it has typically undergone several conversions. Every time energy changes forms, some portion is “lost.” It doesn't disappear, of course.

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

Effects on Land Coal sludge releases –Liquid coal waste released from mining Hardpan at strip mines –Hard clay soil Mountaintop removal Huge water use –Slurry pipelines – water and crushed coal moved from place to place through 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 Nitrogen and Sulfur dioxides from greenhouse gases mix with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acid precipitation.

pH of 6.0 –Kills insects, crabs pH < 5.0 –Kills fish, trees Acidification of lakes Kills Forests (N fixing Bacteria) Eats away rock The taller the smokestack, the farther the pollution travels

Coal Scrubbers

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 60 year supply?

OIL (PETROLEUM) Buried organic matter rich in hydrocarbons

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

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

Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea

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)

Opposition to oil companies Construction of roads, pipelines Displacement of Indians Deforestation Oil leaks into rivers larger thanValdez spill Pollution

Exxon Valdez, Alaska 1989

Attempts to contain spill

Clean-up efforts

Prince William Sound fishing industry damaged

BP Gulf Oil Spill of 2010

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