Lesson 17.1 Energy: An Overview

The United States has

only 4.5% of the

world’s population but

uses 21.1% of the

world’s energy.

Do Now page 105

List 3 fossil fuels

and what they are

used for

Energy Sources and Uses

• Energy Sources

• Renewable: Nearly always available or replaceable in a relatively short time; includes sunlight, wind, flowing water, heat from Earth

• Nonrenewable: Cannot be replaced in a reasonable time; includes fossil fuels and nuclear energy

• Energy Use

• Four uses of energy: Industrial, transportation, residential, commercial

• Developed nations tend to use more energy than developing nations.

Lesson 17.1 Energy: An Overview

Wind power is a renewable

energy source.

Lesson 17.2 Fossil Fuels

One quarter of global coal reserves are found in the United States.

Fossil Fuels

Lesson 17.2 Fossil Fuels

• Include coal, oil, and natural gas

• Formed from the remains of organisms over millions of years

• Different conditions produce different fossil fuels

A front loader piles coal at a steam station in Dunkirk,New York.

Coal

Lesson 17.2 Fossil Fuels

• Formed from plant remains subjected to high heat and

pressures over millions of years

• Provides 1/4 of

the world’s energy

• Compared to other

fossil fuels, coal is

cheap, needs little

processing, and is

easy to transport.

Did You Know? Coal is the

most abundant fossil fuel on

Earth.

How Coal Forms

Coal Mining

Lesson 17.2 Fossil Fuels

Strip mining: Overlying

rock and soil are

removed to access coal

(safer for miners).

Subsurface mining: Underground

shafts are dug to access coal under

Earth’s surface.

Oil

Lesson 17.2 Fossil Fuels

• Dark, liquid fossil fuel made up mostly of hydrocarbons

• Formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms

and found in underground deposits

• Used in fuel for

cars, trucks,

planes, ships

• Used in chemical

compounds

(petrochemicals)

• Also know as

petroleum

Drilling and Refining Oil

Lesson 17.2 Fossil Fuels

• Primary extraction:

Oil flows out of the well,

because it is already

under pressure.

• Secondary extraction:

Increased pressure or

injections needed to

remove oil

• After crude oil

is extracted

from the

ground, it is

separated into

different fuels

in a refinery.

Natural Gas

Lesson 17.2 Fossil Fuels

• Primarily methane gas with small amounts of other gases

mixed in

• Often found above oil or coal

deposits

• Much less polluting than

coal or oil and releases

more energy when

combusted

• Used for heating,

appliances (stoves, dryers),

and making electricity

Fossil Fuel Supply

Lesson 17.2 Fossil Fuels

•Consumption is still rising, but new fossil fuels do not form on a human timescale.

•New oil sources—oil sands, oil shale, methane hydrates—are expensive, energy-intensive, and can be hazardous to obtain.

•Coal sources are still relatively abundant, but not infinite.

Did You Know? Some studies

suggest we have extracted

nearly half Earth’s oil, and that

U.S. coal supplies may last

just 130 years.

Videos

Fossil Fuels 101

1. What does the term “fossil fuels” refer to?

2. Why are fossil fuels highly sought after?

3. Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable?

Fossil Fuels - the rate we use them

1. How much coal does the world burn every day?

2. How much oil does the world burn every day?

3. How fast does the world consume natural gas every day?

Day 2

Lesson 17.3 Consequences of Fossil Fuel Use

The United States imports two thirds of its crude oil.

Pollution, Climate Change, and Public Health

Lesson 17.3 Consequences of Fossil Fuel Use

• Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, which contributes to global climate change.

• When coal and oil burn, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released, which contribute to smog and acid deposition.

• Oil spills, equipment ruptures, and oil in runoff pollute waterways, oceans, and coastal areas.

• Coal-fired power plants release mercury, which harms human health. Crude oil contains trace amounts of lead and arsenic.

Did You Know? Coal-burning power plants cause 40% of mercury emissions due to human activity in the United States.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Well Explosions

Lesson 17.3 Consequences of Fossil Fuel Use

• 1979: Ixtoc I exploratory oil well

• 50 m below surface

• Released 126 million gal oil; containment efforts took 9 months

• What didn’t work: cap, siphoning, controlled burn, “top kill”

• What did work: relief wells

• 2010: Deepwater Horizon oil well

• 1500 m below surface

• Largest U.S. offshore oil breach as of 2010—21.2–33.5 million gal oil released during first 6 weeks, based on USGS rough estimates

• Hundreds of miles of coastal habitats threatened

• Methods tried: dome, cap, siphoning, controlled burns, “top kill,” “junk shot,” and relief wells

Controlled burns attempt to

contain oil pumping into the

Gulf, one month after the

2010 well blow-out.

Damage Caused by Extracting Fuels

Lesson 17.3 Consequences of Fossil Fuel Use

• Mining:

• Humans risk lives and respiratory health.

• Ecosystems are damaged by habitat

destruction, extensive erosion, acid drainage,

and heavy metal contamination downslope

of mines.

• Oil and gas extraction:

• Roads and structures built to support drilling

break up habitats and harm ecosystems.

• The longterm consequences of accidents can

be uncertain or unpredictable

Acid drainage from a coal mine

Dependence on Foreign Sources

Lesson 17.3 Consequences of Fossil Fuel Use

• Fossil fuels are not evenly distributed over the globe, so

some countries must import fuel sources.

• Nations that import fuel may be

vulnerable to changes in fuel prices

set by suppliers.

• Nations can import less fuel by

developing domestic oil sources

and renewable energy sources.

Energy Conservation

Lesson 17.3 Consequences of Fossil Fuel Use

• Practice of reducing energy use to make fossil

fuels last and to prevent environmental

damage

• Transportation: Gas-efficient cars and higher gas

prices could help conserve energy in the U.S.

• Personal choices: Individuals can save energy by

turning off lights, taking public transit, and buying

energy-efficient appliances.

Did You Know? Transportation accounts

for 2/3 of U.S. oil consumption.

BP Oil Spill 2010 Gulf of Mexico

Massive Oil Spill Gulf of Mexico

1. How did the oil spill occur?

2. Describe how the spill affected plant and animal life

3. How many miles of ocean is unsafe to fish in?

BP Oil Spill 5 Years Later

1. Why wouldn’t Authorities want pictures being shown in the media?

2. Who put in the most time to help salvage the situation?

3. Why was it the worst time for an oil spill?

4. How much money is it going to take to rebuild just one of the islands?

5. Does the oil spill situation surprise you? Why or why not?