Coal

1. Coal By: Nolan Quinn

2. How Coal is formed • Dead vegetation falls into swamps • Layers build up of soggy vegetation= peat • Clay, sand, and mineral matter built up over peat • Weight of matter compresses peat and forces out liquid=coal • Happens mostly in swamps

3. PROS AND CONS Cons • Bad for environment • Coal fired plants=air pollution • Coal burning contributes to acid rain • Releases large amounts of carbon dioxide • Can lead and contribute to respiratory diseases • Coal is nonrenewable(for long periods of time) • Once we use up the amount of coal we have we will have to wait for millions of years to let the supply restock. PROS • Coal is versatile= more uses than just burning it • Cheap

4. Economy • Plentiful=cheap • Coal goes for a national average of $33.15 per ton • Out of the U.S • Highest coal cost= Virginia-$77.01 per ton • Lowest coal cost=Montana- $13.53 per ton

5. Time Line • Coal is comprised of plants that died and where saved in the ground somewhere from 100 to 400 million years ago • Scientifically it has been estimated that on Earth there is 847 billion tons of coal • If we continue to use coal at the rate that we are now, this coal should last us 118 years. • Year 2130

6. Environmental Pollution • Pollution caused by emission of contaminants such as sulfur dioxide and mercury • Greenhouse gasses= global warming • 2006 coal power plants= 4 million tons of CO2 , 39,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 6,000 tons of nitrogen oxide • Coal powered power plants = 19.2% of NH’s CO2 output • Very little coal in NH, most of our coal is brought in from out of state • Mining for coal destroys land • Smog

7. Safety • Mine collapses • Respiratory diseases • Explosions • Earthquakes

10. Citations http://www.howmuchdoes.com/how-much-does-coal-cost/ http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/where-is-coal-found/ http://www.worldcoal.org/coal-society/safety-issues/ www.ket.org/Trips/coal/agsmm/agsmmhow.html