1. Coal
By: Nolan Quinn

2. How Coal is formed Dead vegetation falls into swamps
Layers build up of soggy vegetation= peat
Clay, sand, and mineral matter built up over peat
Weight of matter compresses peat and forces out liquid=coal
Happens mostly in swamps

3. PROS AND CONS PROS Coal is versatile= more uses than just burning it
Cheap
Cons
Bad for environment
Coal fired plants=air pollution
Coal burning contributes to acid rain
Releases large amounts of carbon dioxide
Can lead and contribute to respiratory diseases
Coal is nonrenewable(for long periods of time)
Once we use up the amount of coal we have we will have to wait for millions of years to let the supply restock.

4. Economy Plentiful=cheap
Coal goes for a national average of $33.15 per ton
Out of the U.S
Highest coal cost= Virginia- $77.01 per ton
Lowest coal cost=Montana- $13.53 per ton

5. Time Line
Coal is comprised of plants that died and where saved in the ground somewhere from 100 to 400 million years ago
Scientifically it has been estimated that on Earth there is 847 billion tons of coal
If we continue to use coal at the rate that we are now, this coal should last us 118 years.
Year 2130

6. Environmental Pollution
Pollution caused by emission of contaminants such as sulfur dioxide and mercury
Greenhouse gasses= global warming
2006 coal power plants= 4 million tons of CO2 , 39,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 6,000 tons of nitrogen oxide
Coal powered power plants = 19.2% of NH’s CO2 output
Very little coal in NH, most of our coal is brought in from out of state
Mining for coal destroys land
Smog

7. Safety
Mine collapses
Respiratory diseases
Explosions
Earthquakes

10. Citations