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Fossil Fuels

Coal, oil, and natural gas are called fossil fuels be-cause they are composed of the remnants of organ­isms that lived millions of years ago. All fossil fuels are present in the Earth's crust in finite amounts and are therefore considered nonrenewable natural resources. Environmental problems associated with the production and use of fossil fuels include dam­age to the environment at the site of production, accidental spills during transport or storage, and emission of carbon dioxide and other pollutants during combustion. Synfuels (tar sands, oil shales, gas hydrates, alcohol fuels, coal liquid, and coal gas) arc generally more expensive than traditional fossil fuels and have many of the same undesirable environmental effects. Nevertheless, as coal, oil, and natural reserves decline, synfuels may become more important sources of energy.

More on Fossil Fuels

  ●  ENERGY CRISES

  ●  ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

  ●  FOSSIL FUELS

  ●  COAL

  ●  OIL AND NATURAL GAS

  ●  SYNFUELS AND OTHER POTENTIAL FOSSIL FUEL RESOURCES

  ●  AN ENERGY STRATEGY FOR THE UNITED STATES