1. Yes, ethanol is renewable. But… Planting more sugarcane for ethanol means destruction of habitat in Brazil (decreased biodiversity). Burning ethanol releases more CO2 than burning petroleum. Soil erosion results from clearing fields for sugarcane. It has a low net energy yield (about 1.3 units of energy gained for 1 unit expended) Growing corn for ethanol means growing less corn for food, which can increase food prices (because so many foods have corn products in them). The supply of corn isn’t close to being big enough for ethanol to replace gasoline, even if we used all the corn grown in the U.S. for ethanol. The crops we grow for ethanol require a lot of water, putting a strain on water resources. Fuel with ethanol absorbs water vapor from the atmosphere, becoming diluted.

2. Energy from Coal abundant (will last hundreds of years at current rates of use) high net energy yield low cost to consumers infrastructure exists to use it for heat and electricity no need to import to U.S. releases CO2 when burned releases other harmful gases (some make acid rain) millions of years to form (nonrenewable) severe land disturbance & polluted run-off from mines AdvantagesDisadvantages

3. many useful byproducts (plastics, solvents, tar) relatively low land disruption to extract fairly large supply (available for decades more) efficient distribution system already exists convenient to use in vehicles U.S. has to import a lot potential for oil spills in the ocean and for pipeline leaks on land releases CO2 when burned only a moderate net energy yield nonrenewable Energy from Oil (Petroleum) AdvantagesDisadvantages

4. ideal for heating spaces relatively large supplies in the U.S. good net energy yield less air pollution than other fossil fuels conventional methods have low land disturbance releases CO2 when burned energy yield goes down when changed into liquid hydrofracturing methods involve more land disturbance nonrenewable relatively difficult to transport Energy from Natural Gas AdvantagesDisadvantages