Non- Renewable Energy- a Source of Energy That Is in Limited Supply and Irreplaceable

Non- Renewable Energy- a source of energy that is in limited supply and irreplaceable.

Examples: Coal, petroleum and natural gas

Coal was formed over millions of years ago when about 300 million years ago plants died and fell into swamps and bogs. Under these conditions the plant mater was not allowed to decay and under water due to lack of oxygen, after millions of years of matter building up on top of it pressure compressed the plant mater into coal.

Pros of Coal:  Coal is abundant, found through out the United States  Coal is relatively cheap compared to other sources of energy  Used to generate electricity  Fueled the industrial revolution  Replaced the use of wood relieving pressure on forests  We don’t depend on other countries to supply our coal

Cons of Coal  Mining is dangerous 1. Underground mines can collapse, catch on fire explode 2. Miners are forced to breathe in particles that cause “Black Lung” 3. Methane gas can build up in the mine leading to explosions 4. Methane gas is a greenhouse gas that contributes to Global Warming  Open pit mining is safer but has problems 1. Erosion 2. Changes landscape 3. Ground water can be contaminated by heavy metals  Transporting coal is not very efficient because it is so bulky  Burning coal can cause air pollution because of the impurities o Impurities in coal include arsenic, mercury, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. o Smog can be worse in areas where coal is burned, which can damage lungs and even caused death under certain circumstances o Acid rain, caused by nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide can kill forests and disrupt aquatic ecosystems o Particles in the air from burning coal can cause lung disease and make asthma worse o Mercury builds up in aquatic ecosystems, killing some species and make it dangerous to eat fish. Consuming mercury can cause birth defects. Petroleum, oil

Oil was formed in an ocean environment when plankton and other organism die and fall to the bottom, over millions of years the accumulations are covered with sediments and with heat a pressure are converted to oil.

Pros of Oil  The world’s economy and infrastructure are based on oil as a source on energy (Most people have cars that run on gasoline made from oil)  Used to generate electricity  Used for transportation  Crop production  Manufacturing  Affordable (we use it every day)  Convenient  Before oil was widely used whales were hunted for the blubber as a source of energy  We have the technology to find and extract it  Can also be used to create plastic and asphalt

Cons of Oil  As demand increases the supply decreases  Global distribution is uneven, creating tension between countries  Drilling and pipelines can disrupt and destroy habitats  Hurricanes can disrupt our supply and cause damage to rigs spilling oil in the ocean  Oils spills during transport can kill wildlife, fish , destroy habitat, pollute water and soil and cost billons of dollars to clean up  Refining oil is the second most pollution industry in the US.  People living close to some oil refineries have higher rates of cancer  Underground storage tanks sometimes leak polluting ground water and soil and costing millions to clean up.  Combustion releases o Nitrogen oxide causing acid rain o carbon dioxide, a green house gas o particulate mater, causing lung disease  Dependence on one energy supply will be crippling to the nation if the supply is cut off. Natural Gas

Natural gas is formed from decaying plant matter or oil that has been exposed to heat and pressure and is often found with oil deposits. Natural gas is mostly Methane (CH4) with a mixture of other gasses such as ethane, butane and propane.

Pros of Natural gas:  Burns cleaner than oil or coal producing less particulate matter, Nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide  Impurities in the gas can be sold after refinement, such as hydrogen and ammonia ( used as a fertilizer)  Gas pipelines can deliver natural gas right to urban homes  We produce 84% of what we use in the US

Cons of Natural gas  Difficult to transport gas efficiently  Methane itself is a greenhouse gas (21X stronger than Carbon dioxide) o Leaks contribute to global warming  Drilling and pipeline can harm wilderness, wildlife habitats, ocean and tundra o Landslides o Erosion o Loss of vegetation cover

 Water diverted from natural water bodies for use in gas fired power plants and retuned to the stream at a warmer temperature can disrupt aquatic ecosystems.