■ Expensive to process and transport; cannot be used effectively for
transportation needs.
■ Contributes to the formation of acid rain (wet deposition) caused by
sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ).■ Dry deposition is caused by NOx and/or SOx.
■ Contributes to global warming caused by the products of coal combustion
(e.g., CO 2 and methane [CH 4 ]).■ Contributes to the production of photochemical and industrial smog and
releases particulates, all of which aggravate respiratory illnesses.CASE STUDY
COAL CONSUMPTION IN CHINA: From 2010 to 2012, China’s
renewable electricity growth was double that of the U.S. and is continuing to
grow. However, fossil fuels (primarily coal) account for 87% of all energy
used in China, and China’s reliance on coal is predicted to keep growing.
Today, China burns more than 4 billion tons of coal each year in power
plants, homes, and factories. By comparison, the U.S. burns less than 1 billion
tons. China surpassed the U.S. to become the largest global CO 2 emitter in
2007 and is predicted to double annual U.S. emissions in 2017. While
projections for the U.S. and Europe are for steady or decreasing coal use in
the coming decades, China’s coal use is expected to keep increasing.
Coal, the most carbon-intensive of the fossil fuels, accounts for 70% of
the energy used in China today and is responsible for about three-quarters of
electricity generation.OIL
Oil is a fossil fuel produced by the decomposition of deeply buried organic
material (plants) under high temperature and pressure for millions of years.
Compounds derived from oil are known as petrochemicals and are used in the
manufacture of such products as paints, drugs, and plastics.
Oil occurs in certain geologic formations at varying depths in Earth’s crust
and is usually found trapped in a layer of porous sandstone, which lies just