1. Problems with Coal

2. Problems with Coal… • Contains sulfur causing air pollution when burned. • Makes acid rain! • High amounts of air pollution (CO2 and SO2) are given off by coal power plants. • Causes more air pollution when burned than any other fossil fuel

7. In your books (pg 436) describe each of the following… Peat Lignite Subbituminous Bituminous Anthracite Coke (on back of notes sheet)

8. Coal Mining • Underground mining: • dangerous, collapsed mines, fires, gas explosions, and black lung (lungs are coated in coal dust) • Strip Mining - the overlying layer of rock is stripped to get to the coal from the surface. • this is cheaper, safer, and yields 3x’s more coal than underground mining

9. Centrailia and an Explosion Centralia Video Mine Explosion Video

10. Problems with Strip Mining • Less than one-half of the mines have been reclaimed… • restored to their natural state • Acid Mine Drainage is when water reacts with mineral in the open mine forming highly acidic water pollution the environment killing aquatic organisms and waterfowl

16. Solutions to Coal Use • Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires that mined land be restored to its primary use (forest, field, etc.) • Clean Air Act of 1990 forces companies to reduce the emissions (release) of SO2 and NO2 when burning coal • More coal in this country is coming from the mid-west instead of the east because it contains less sulfur • New technologies are being invented to reduce air pollutants from coal (scrubber - sprays the gas with lime or calcium water binding the SO2, causing it to settle out – expensive process to install) • ***Using natural gas is cleaner because it releases one-half the CO2 and SO2 of coal

17. Reclamation

18. Synthetic Fuels • Fuels produced by chemically changing fossil fuels like coal. They are cleaner burning • In your books, pg 446, find the notes for… • Liquid Coal • Coal Gas • Oil Shale

19. Fracking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pCvdOg0Cec&feature=fvst