Coal Vs Natural Gas Essay

1344 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Negative and positive impacts of coal mining

INTRODUCTION This paper was designed to look more in detail at the power industry and the environment. The topics in this paper include: coal and its impact on the environment, natural gas and its impact on the environment, and basic economics. Specifically, this paper seeks answers to the following questions: • What is coal? • What are the environmental impacts of coal? • What is shale natural gas? • What are the environmental impacts of natural gas? • How does coal vs natural gas stack up???? Or why is nat gas better? ? • How does the price of natural gas promote its economic viability to the United States and the Gulf Coast region?also something about building plants is cheaper now BACKGROUND DISCUSSION: WHAT IS COAL? Coal is defined …show more content…

However, the presence of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides (the precursor to sulfuric and nitric acid), as well as chlorides and fluorides (the precursors to hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids), can lead to rainfall with a pH lower than 5.0 (Spath 1999 p. 83) Few plants can tolerate acidic soils, as most plants prefer an alkaline-based environment. Acid rain can cause pronounced effects as it leaches into soil. The acidity of the soil may inhibit seed germination and seedling growth (spath 1999 p.83). As the pH level falls below 3.5, the leaves of plants may be damaged. Another ecological concern when acid rain becomes an issue are lakes, rivers, and aquatic life. The lower the pH level becomes, the greater losses of aquatic life. According to Spath (1999): "At a pH less than 4, lakes become suitable habitats for white moss. This moss forms a thick covering on the lake bottom preventing nutrient exchange between the water and lake sediments (p. 83)." At a pH of 5.4, all fish typically stop reproducing. Lakes with a pH lower than 5 commonly do not contain any fish. Solid Waste

Show More
Related

  • Rising Gas Prices in the United States

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    Currently, the most important factor in the rise of gas prices is the increasing cost of crude oil. Unfortunately, the United States has three percent of the world’s oil reserves. (Horsley) In 2009, the United States was third in crude oil production as well as the world’s largest petroleum consumer. (e. I. Administration) Such consumption required and still requires the United States to import petroleum/crude oil from other countries.

    Read More

  • The Adirondacks

    1040 Words  | 3 Pages

    The result is an acidity level that's harmful to fish, wildlife, plants, and trees. Already, 1,200 lakes in the U.S. have been completely acidified so the lake water is unfit for human use and little or nothing can live in it.Such is the case in the Adirondacks, which are a group of mountains surrounded by many lakes and rivers. They cover over 5,000 square miles in the northeastern part of New York state. It's an area where large resort villages are around the Saranac river and Lake George.

    Read More

  • The History Of Coal Mining In Pennsylvania

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pennsylvania, along with being rich in coal, is now receiving kudos for its participation in the production of natural gas. An article composed by Madelon...

    Read More

  • Coal Mining Persuasive

    1408 Words  | 3 Pages

    Coal companies have been destroying our mountains, polluting our water, and poisoning our communities for far too long.

    Read More

  • Essay On White Vinegar

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    Some kinds can accept acidic waters more than others. polluting of the environment impacts many species ultimately impacts additional through the entire organic phenomenon combined with non-aquatic kinds like parrots. The penalties of smog, combined together with different ecological stressors, depart trees in addition to plants unripe to be able to confront to be able to cold conditions, insects, in addition to illness. The pollutants could on top of that inhibit trees ability to breed. Some soil square gauge higher capable of neutralize acids than others. In areas the spot that the soil streaming capability will be low, this harmful outcomes of smog square gauge plenty added.

    Read More

  • Effect of Acid Rain on Germination

    1702 Words  | 4 Pages

    Effect of Acid Rain on Germination A seed is formed from the ovule of a flower as a result of fertilisation, and is then dispersed from the parent plant. If the seed lands in a suitable place, it will germinate. Germination is the growth of the embryo inside the seed, eventually growing into a mature plant. CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR GERMINATION OXYGEN - is used for aerobic respiration, which provides the energy for many chemical changes involved in the food reserves and making the new cytoplasm and cell walls of the growing seedling. TEMPERATURE - a rise in temperature speeds up most chemical reactions, including those taking place in living organisms.

    Read More

  • Hudson River Research Paper

    1117 Words  | 3 Pages

    It ranges from zero to fourteen with seven being neutral. Anything less than seven is considered acidic and anything greater is considered basic. A river can become acidic through acid rain or certain pollutants. A non toxic stream is supposed to be around a pH of seven, and anything too far away could harm aquatic life and drinking water quality. Changing the pH of the water affects the solubility of nutrients and heavy metals in the water that aquatic life needs to survive. Dissolved oxygen is how much oxygen is dissolved in the water. Life in the rivers and streams breath this oxygen in order to survive. If the dissolved oxygen were to drop too low, the life in those waters would begin to die off. The oxygen enters the stream mostly from the atmosphere. When eutrophication occurs, it can cause an oxygen deficiency in the water. Eutrophication is a significant increase in plant life in a river which can kill off much of the aquatic life due to lack of dissolved oxygen. An ideal level of dissolved oxygen is five to six parts per million(ppm). Aquatic life will have difficulty with anything below three ppm. The level of nitrates in the water can affect the plant’s life directly and the aquatic life

    Read More

  • Fracking As A Solution To Fracking

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    America is becoming more and more worried about where it will get the resources it needs for energy. Coal is becoming an expensive resource and under close observation due to its effect on our atmosphere with its carbon dioxide emissions. Nuclear power has created concerns since the recent Japanese disaster. We return to looking for a way to have fuel needed to supply us with the energy needs of today, and also the future. Natural gas then presents itself as an option. Natural gas is being celebrated as a solution to sustain us till we can become more dependent on renewable resources, such as wind and solar. The source for all this gas is literally right under our nose. It lies in shale formations underground. One such formation, the largest in America the Marcelus Shale, a huge formation in parts of Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania contains more than $500 billion worth of gas in one area alone.

    Read More

  • Economics: What are Externalities?

    1954 Words  | 4 Pages

    The electricity sector in developing countries is increasing rapidly, however, there are a number of externalities linked with energy generation and the price of energy does not reflect all the associated costs. These externalities include effects on human health, the environment, climate, subsidies, agriculture as well as reactor accidents and economic effects (Bernal-Agustin & Dufo-Lopez, 2006) (Friedrich & Voss, 1993) (Edkins, Winkler, Marquard, & Spalding-Fecher, 2010). In the uncontrolled market, there is a inclination to produce more energy and produce a larger waste fuel supply than is socially optimal (Aronsson, Backlund, & Lofgren, 1998) therefore economic instruments are necessary to internalize the cost of externalities for optimal pollution.

    Read More

  • Effect of Burning Fossil Fuels on Limestone Buildings

    1051 Words  | 3 Pages

    * Acidifies lakes and ponds * Metal ions being washed out of soil * Damage to the gill of fish * Nutrients drained of leaves and soils Roots damage to trees leading to poor water intake. Acid rain is created by two main sources. 1. What is the difference between a. and a. Power stations produce sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. 2.

    Read More

  • Buisness Context on Energy Companies

    1694 Words  | 4 Pages

    In this assignment the topics comprise of Fracking and Stakeholders involvement, Supply and Demand and how that is effected through increase in energy prices. Also a detailed depiction of Carroll’s Model and how energy companies utilize this. As a final point a detailed reflective statement is needed, and the focus is how government involvement impacts on the supply and price of energy to businesses.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: Coal Energy And Sustainable Energy

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    We near the year 2020, and sustainable energy is a pressing concern. On the political front, Hilary Clinton’s clean energy plan will be shutting down many coal power plants. However, if we stop using coal power plants we have many power options we need to select from; Such as solar, wind, water, or nuclear. It’s not clear which power option is best suited to replace the coal generation in place. Coal is a very cheap power option.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Fossil Fuel

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since the United States relies on fossil fuels as an energy source, it is at a high demand. Today, the price of fossil fuel is high and it will continue to grow as long as there is still a large demand for it. Businesses and all other consumers in America are spending between seven-hundred billion and one trillion every year on coal, oil and natural gas. If America chooses to continue using fossil fuel as an energy source, the United States will most likely spend about twenty-three trillion dollars on fuel between 2010 and 2030. In 2006 alone, American businesses and consumers spent over nine-hundred billion dollars on fossil fuel, which was more than the amount that was spent on education and the military. In Washington, D.C. and in many other states, the government has made policies to encourage the use of alternative energy sources in order to increase the use of solar and wind power, and rid the Earth from greenhouse gasses. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, switching to an alternative energy source could cut global warming emissions along with providing savings for consumers and businesses at over four-hundred billion every year by 2030 (Environment America, 2009). For example, wind energy can be great for the economy because the free winds make the cost of production very low after wind turbines are created. Fast creation and technological advances have also made turbines cheaper, and many governments offer tax incentives to encourage the production of more wind energy (National Geographic,

    Read More

  • Negative Effects Of Coal On The Environment

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    The coast of coal is quite reasonably less than that of clean energy sources. The reason that so many people are proposing for more coal plants, is because they cost an average of 1 million less than if we went in the direction of clean energy. Coal is making its comeback now because of the raising prices of other fuels and the want for adorable electricity. Coal helps keep electricity prices low, but also boosts security by offering and alternative to foreign fuel. This low cost energy doesn’t come without a larger price, of our environment’s wellbeing.

    Read More

  • Water Engineering: The Importance Of Water Quality In Civil Engineering

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    If there is not enough oxygen in the water, it may lead to the death of many organisms, reduction in their growth or even failure to survive. The pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline the water. It is defined as the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration. According to Fondriest Environmental Inc, a well-known Fundamental Environmental organization, the pH scale goes from 0 to 14. As the scale of pH decreases, water becomes more acidic. Many chemical reactions inside aquatic organisms are necessary for survival and growth of organisms. At the extreme ends of the pH scale, (2 or 13) physical damage to gills, exoskeleton, fins, occurs. Changes in pH may alter the concentrations of other substances in water to a more toxic form. Examples: a decrease in pH (below 6) may increase the amount of mercury soluble in water. An increase in pH (above 8.5) enhances the conversion of nontoxic ammonia (ammonium ion) to a toxic form of ammonia (un-ionized ammonia). (Fondriest,

    Read More

More about Coal Vs Natural Gas Essay

Open Document