Fossil fuels have been the primary source of energy for the United States for decades. Coal and natural gas have been used to generate electricity, power vehicles, and heat homes. However, these nonrenewable resources come at a cost. Coal and natural gas extraction and production have environmental and human health implications. Therefore, it is essential to compare the benefits and limitations of both resources and analyze their costs. Coal has been a crucial resource for energy generation for centuries. Coal-fired power plants generate almost 21% of the energy in the United States. Coal is relatively cheap, making it a cost-effective energy source. However, coal has several limitations. Coal extraction is a dangerous and challenging process …show more content…
Natural gas is relatively inexpensive and has lower emissions than coal, making it an attractive alternative. Natural gas extraction is also less dangerous than coal mining, and it has fewer environmental impacts. However, natural gas has its limitations. While natural gas is cleaner than coal, it still releases greenhouse gasses and contributes to climate change. The extraction process of natural gas can also cause environmental harm, such as groundwater contamination and habitat disruption. The cost of natural gas-generated electricity is also higher than coal-generated electricity, although the difference has decreased in recent years. A cost-benefit analysis can help determine which energy source is better. The benefits of coal include its low cost, abundance, and the availability of technology to extract it. However, the limitations of coal include its negative impact on the environment and human health. The benefits of natural gas include its low cost, lower emissions than coal, and less dangerous extraction process. However, the limitations of natural gas include its contribution to …show more content…
Investing in renewable energy sources like wind and solar is also essential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change. In addition to the environmental and health impacts of coal and natural gas, it's also important to consider the economic implications of each energy source. Coal mining and natural gas extraction create jobs and support local economies in areas where these resources are abundant. However, the cost of these jobs may come at a price. Coal mining, for example, can be dangerous and often requires workers to work in hazardous conditions. The risk of accidents and health issues such as black lung disease is high for coal miners. Natural gas extraction, on the other hand, has been associated with environmental issues such as water pollution and methane emissions. These issues have resulted in public concern and calls for stricter regulations, which can add to the cost of natural gas production. Despite the challenges associated with coal and natural gas, they remain important sources of energy for the United States. It's up to policymakers, industry leaders, and consumers to weigh the costs and benefits of each energy source and work together to create a sustainable
In addition, we depend on oil and natural gas for energy to drive our cars, heat our houses, provide air
Another benefit from switching to clean-burning natural gas is a decrease in pollutants in the air, which will decrease airborne illnesses and premature deaths. He discusses the impact of energy independence for countries that rely on insecure regions for their energy needs. For example, the U.S. will rely less on the Middle East, Europe will rely less on Russia and India will rely less on Iran. By presenting fracking as the answer to the world’s problems, Pierce counters the arguments of critics who cite the environmental problems of fracking. His paper is one-sided because he leaves out the other side of the debate by ignoring any negative aspects of fracking.
The air quality improves by using natural gas to generate electricity instead of coal. The use of natural gas reduces carbon dioxide emissions causing a decrease in air pollution. Some argue that since fracking allows us to obtain more oil, our dependency on foreign oil will decrease. Since our dependency should decrease other foreign countries will lower their tax rates. They will lower taxes because they know we are not dependent of them and their oil.
Natural Gas and Fracking:Economic Realities of Alternative Natural gas is a cornerstone of the US economy,providing a quarter of the country’s total energy. However the negative externality is heavy . The increase of energy production brings us environment pollution and economic problems. All these are related to Hydraulic Fracking. Since Hydraulic Fracking was used as a new technique of energy exploitation in 1947, it has eventually accounted for nearly 70% of natural gas development in North America.
(Fracking and Poverty) Furthermore, “The gas industry has chosen to voluntarily tell what additives are used at each well site through the Frack Focus database” (“EIA Kids Natural Gas Basics”) So there are some disadvantages, but the advantages of fracking are more
By fracking for natural gas and shifting from coal to natural gas power generation plants, we could benefit economically, save our environment, and save millions of gallons of
Impacts of coal pollution on human health: Different type of harmful gas are releases during coal combustion: • Sulfur dioxide (SO2) which responsible for acid rain and respiratory illnesses • Nitrogen oxides (NOx) which contribute to smog and respiratory illnesses • Particulates which contribute to smog, haze, and respiratory illnesses and lung disease • Carbon dioxide (CO2) which is the primary greenhouse gas produced from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) • Mercury and other heavy metals, which have been linked to both neurological and developmental damage in humans and other animals Coal pollution also contribute to global warming and the health implications .Coal pollutants affect all major body organ systems
Besides these benefits, I feel that fracking has too many adverse effects on the environment and communities that lives within the vicinity of fracking sites. I am very shocked by how our society embraces technology without thinking about its unintended impacts on our environment. We rarely focus on better and sustainable alternatives, particularly when developing energy. I am disappointed
As of January 1st, 2016, there are over 18.3 billion short tons of coal left in the United States. Coal is found in fifty-three of fifty-five counties in the state of West Virginia, and it leads the country in coal production. It does have a negative effect on the environment, it is a major source of air pollution, but overall coal is important to the country. As an energy source we depend on, without the mining of coal the country would have an energy problem. We use coal for heat, transportation, and electricity.
However, natural gas is still a fossil fuel, regardless of the fact that it burns cleanly. The process of extracting the natural gas, however, is dangerous, and the fact that it cleanly burns is not applicable. When not extracted properly, and even when it is extracted properly, there can be deadly consequences that cannot be
Source 1 states, “Shale gas emits half the carbon dioxide per unit of energy as does coal, and coal burning also emits metals such as mercury into the atmosphere that eventually settle back into our soils and waters.”. Fracking does less damage to the atmosphere than coal mining but yet people are trying to put an end to fracking. If America is powers their homes, cars, etc. through natural gases, coal mining will no longer be necessary and America can slow down global warming a little bit more. People who live near fracking sites are worried about the possibilities of water contamination due to the chemicals used to break apart the bedrock. Source 2 says, “Because fracking involves pumping... chemicals into the ground to
To what extent should we sacrifice the environment to become energy independent? Today in America, fracking has become a popular mean to extract oil and gas as a new technology, but unfortunately the process poses as a controversial issue throughout the country. Various issues are debated upon the topic as some say it is a better source of alternative fuel, while others argue that hydraulic fracturing, also referred to as fracking, is detrimental to citizens’ health and the environment. Altogether, we should banned the new technology of fracking before it provides long term, detrimental damage -- economic, environmental, and health-wise.
Natural gas produces “roughly 95% fewer pollutants than gasoline or diesel fuel when burned”. We have enough reserves to last for about 87 years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011 took a major step forward to promote natural gas. This act renewed the tax credit on natural gas fuel for five years, it gave new credits for buying and producing natural gas vehicles, and it gave a tax credit for building new natural gas stations. Doyle supports this type of legislation.
Sixty percent of the United State’s energy is produced from coal and oil, making the United States dependent on these resources. Coal and oil come at a cost, according to Canary Media, coal and oil have the highest death rate per terawatt around 24 deaths for coal and 18 for oil. This chart uses air pollution and power plant disasters to calculate the deaths per terawatt. Compared to .03 deaths per terawatt for nuclear the dangers of coal and oil shine. How coal is used to produce energy is the same method as nuclear but less complex.
The first thing to consider while choosing the energy for us is its efficiency. The efficiency of solar energy is better than the coal because it is produced in two different ways i.e. by using the photovoltaic (PV) or by using solar cells which help to convert sunlight