In the Susquehanna Valley, PA, power generation uses 150 million gallons of water per day. Powerplants require large volumes of clean freshwater for cooling plant equipment. Effects of Fossil Fuels on Climate Change Study More conclusive studies are necessary before making clear comparisons between the climate change effects of natural gas and other fossil fuels. It is unclear if these estimates still hold for current gas production, but in 1997 it was estimated that natural gas leaks account for 19-21% of the U.S. A study in 1997 by the EPA and GRI estimated that the decreased CO2 emissions from natural gas outweigh any greenhouse gas emissions from methaneane leaks 2. Methane contributes more to climate change than CO2 on a per pound basis, so even small leaks of methane may make natural gas contribute more to climate change than coal. However, leaks of methane (CH4) from natural gas pipelines may amount to a significant additional source of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to the reduction in CO2 emissions, natural gas does not have significant emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. Using data collected from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) division of the Department of Energy (DOE), the emissions of several stack gasses are compared for natural gas, oil, and coal. In terms of emissions from power plant sources, natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel.
The Marcellus Shale contains 50 trillion cubic feet of extractable natural gas, which can supply the United States with 2 years of gas assuming current consumption rates are constant 1.
(Figure 1, data from EIA, 2008) and is used by several sectors (Figure 2, data from EIA, 2008). Natural gas is a major source of energy in the U.S. becomes less reliant on fossil fuels and begins to use primarily renewable energy sources. Not only are fossil fuels a non-renewable resource, they pollute the environment and contribute to climate change. The United States generates most of its energy through the burning of fossil fuels. Send an email to webeditor Comparison Against Other Fossil Fuels
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