How Long Will Fossil Fuels Last?
America runs on fossil fuels. Automobiles, trains, airplanes and most, or all, transportation methods depend on these fossil fuels. Electric power is also derived, primarily, from fossil fuels. Americans derive 39% of their power from coal, 27% from natural gas and 19% from nuclear power (“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis”). However, fossil fuels are quickly running out, as they are a nonrenewable resource. Scientists predict coal resources will run out in 110 years, oil in 53 years and natural gas in 54 years. While a century to half a century seems like a long time, these resources are, in actuality, quickly being depleted and, in a few generations, may be obsolete. While fossils fuels are technically renewable, it would be millions of years before this energy source would be completely restored and harvestable (“How Long Will Fossil Fuels Last?”).
The other major issue with the use of fossil fuels is their environmental and health effects. The major fossil fuel, coal, poses several detrimental effects to the environment. Coal mining results …show more content…
Radioactive waste includes anything exposed to radiation from nuclear energy such as clothing, tubes, rags, reactor fuel and residual uranium. Radioactive waste can lead to radioactive contamination which can kill organisms and destroy ecosystems (“Radioactive Waste”). At this point, there is nowhere positively safe to permanently store the waste. Most nuclear plants store any radioactive waste in iron caskets within the plant. However, this is not a permanent solution to the issue. Underwater storage has been suggested but is impractical and expensive (“Storage and ‘Disposal’ of Nuclear Waste”). The best solution seems to be burying any waste below ground in the iron caskets. This way, not much land is used, and any radioactivity is kept away from human
The other major issue with the use of fossil fuels is their environmental and health effects. The major fossil fuel, coal, poses several detrimental effects to the environment. Coal mining results …show more content…
Radioactive waste includes anything exposed to radiation from nuclear energy such as clothing, tubes, rags, reactor fuel and residual uranium. Radioactive waste can lead to radioactive contamination which can kill organisms and destroy ecosystems (“Radioactive Waste”). At this point, there is nowhere positively safe to permanently store the waste. Most nuclear plants store any radioactive waste in iron caskets within the plant. However, this is not a permanent solution to the issue. Underwater storage has been suggested but is impractical and expensive (“Storage and ‘Disposal’ of Nuclear Waste”). The best solution seems to be burying any waste below ground in the iron caskets. This way, not much land is used, and any radioactivity is kept away from human