Why is Burning Coal so Harmful?
Air Emissions
Because they release greenhouse gases during combustion such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury compounds, burning coal can cause drastic climate change through a process known as the "Greenhouse Effect." This process is where gasses such as these trap heat on the earth's surface, causing polar ice caps to melt, ocean levels to rise, and other dramatic climate changes across the globe. Generation of electricity releases more greenhouse gases annually than any other economic sector, being responsible for 34% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Within generation of electricity, coal-fired power plants account for 81% of all greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. |
Water Resource Use
Refinement of coal requires large quantities of water in order to remove impurities. The steam generation also requires a lot of water in generating the electricity. Taking the water can result in habitat loss for many aquatic animal species, and can affect humans who depend on the water as a resource. Water Discharges In a coal-fired power plant, pollutants build up in the steam generation system. Often this contaminated water is discharged into lakes or rivers, potentially harming aquatic ecosystems. |
Solid Waste Generation
Coal combustion leaves a solid waste, called ash, which is primarily composed of alkali metals. Solid waste is also generated at mines when the coal is cleaned, and at plants when air pollutants are removed from the stack gas. These solid wastes are often put into landfills or left at abandoned mines.
Land Resource Use
Soil near coal-fired power plants becomes polluted and can often take years to recover. Surface mining for coal can also take up very large areas of land which could affect humans who live near the land and the habitats of various species near the area.
Coal combustion leaves a solid waste, called ash, which is primarily composed of alkali metals. Solid waste is also generated at mines when the coal is cleaned, and at plants when air pollutants are removed from the stack gas. These solid wastes are often put into landfills or left at abandoned mines.
Land Resource Use
Soil near coal-fired power plants becomes polluted and can often take years to recover. Surface mining for coal can also take up very large areas of land which could affect humans who live near the land and the habitats of various species near the area.
United states coal consumption in 2003 was just over 1.1 billion tons.
But what are our other options?
But what are our other options?
How do we make a change?