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Fossil Fuels
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Definition
Fossil fuels are the partially decayed bodies of organisms formed millions of years ago. They are hydrocarbons (mixtures of carbon and hydrogen) and include methane, coal, oil, and natural gas. Hydrocarbons also can be produced as synthetic fuels from tar sands, oil shales, gas hydrates, liquefied coal, and coal gas. They pose two problems to sustainability (besides the fact that they are nonrenewable). There are the consequences of combustion and the impacts of production and transport. Land damage occurs, especially when coal is strip-mined. Water pollution is a common indirect impact of production. Oil spills occur in transport, and greenhouse gases and acid rain can result from combustion.
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Tags/Keywords
Fossil fuels, nonrenewable resources, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, methane, coal, lignite, bituminous coal, soft coal, anthracite, hard coal, Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, acid mine drainage, dragline, mountaintop removal, mine reclamation, acid rain, scrubbers, clean coal technologies, petroleum, crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas, petrochemicals, cogeneration, oil spill, greenhouse gases, global warming, proved reserves, shale oil, speculative oil resources, tar sands |
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FEATURED ORGANIZATIONS
 Alliance for a Post-Petroleum Local EconomyAPPLE Nevada County is working to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and to promote a more self-reliant local economy.
 Crude Accountability works with citizen groups in the Caspian Sea basin to protect the region's natural environment and to ensure environmental justice for communities impacted by natural resource development.
RELATED PORTALS
Mining Minerals Law and Policy Mining and Refining Ores Mountaintop Removal Sustainable Minerals Industry |
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