Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels present been a widely use pedigree of energy all(prenominal) since the Industrial Revolution just before the infiltrate of the 20th century. Fossil fuels argon relatively easy to use to turn all(prenominal)place energy because they only require a simple direct combustion. However, a problem with fogy fuels is their environmental impact. Not only does their excavation from the intellect signifi skunktly alter the environment, entirely their combustion leads to a great draw of air canvassution. Fossil and thermo thermo atomic plants ar cap fitting-bodied of producing signifi good dealt amounts of index. Plants in the gigawatt (billions of watts) range argon common.Modern cities indigence everywheresized amounts of reli able-bodied electricity, much than than what many alternative reservoirs can currently deliver. Businesses should educate people astir(predicate) what benefits they can get out of atomic versus fogey fuels. One of the jumper cable a nd biggest Corporations in atomic filed is Exelon Corporation. The Exelon Corporation could educate citizens of the unite States to the highest degree the motivating to get off fogy fuels, the relative improvement begot from nuclear and forebode connections misconceptions on the dangers of nuclear energy.Back priming/ Context of Issue. The be for building and operating a indicator plant is lower for fogey fuels. This remains true even though environmental concerns work added to their bells. For the pitiable term, these fuels atomic number 18 the easiest to produce. thermonuclear fuel, though much less of it is needed, requires significant, costly refining to bring the ores to useful purity. At the end of its productive life, a nuclear plant must be decommissi stard, a costly process. We burn fossil fuels to get energy from them. This is called combustion. Technically, the products of combustion ar carbon dioxide and water. entirely with or so fuels combustion is inc omplete. Ashes escape into the air or accumulate in the furnace, requiring disposal. In 2009, carbon dioxide is seen as a major factor in planetary warming. Spent fuel nuclear fuel rods, no longer able to make creator, are still highly radioactive. They must be cautiously stored for at least hundreds of years. Interstate shipments of radioactive wastes are controversial no sensation wants the potential for nuclear accidents in their home state. nuclear forcefulness has seen two major applications turgid, stationary electric ower plants and propulsion for naval vessels. The sour shielding around a reactor limits former(a) uses. Nuclear aircraft locomotive engines and former(a)wise applications nonplus been explored, save the heaviness of the reactor and the chance of contamination from accidents take these from serious consideration. Fossil fuels are use in things as miniature as lighters and big as power plants. In liquid form, they can be conveniently stored and distr i scarceed. Hazards such as toxicity and flammability exist but dont pose long-term problems the same as nuclear fuels do.Reserves think of many complex factors. Geologists can determine the extent of proven reserves, though these can be over- or understated for political reasons. New finds are reported frequently. Consumption, which determines how long reserves depart, last, is variable, driven by frugal conditions. At current rates of use, the world has enough coal for 200 years, inunct for 40 years and natural gas for 60 years. Uranium reserves are good for 50 years, though technologies such as stock stock breeder reactors can, in theory, stretch that to more than 1,000.Currently, the coupled States and nigh of the world is locked into what could be called the fossil fuel economy. Our automobiles, trains and planes are fueled al well-nigh exclusively by oil colour colour products like gaso ancestry and diesel. A great percentage of our power plants use oil, natural ga s and coal for their fuel. If the flow of fossil fuels to the unify States were ever cut off, the economy would come to a halt. There would be no substance to transport the products that factories produce. There would be no way for people to drive to work. The whole economy, and in fact the whole of Hesperian auberge, currently depends on fossil fuels.While fossil fuels welcome play an secondant role in getting society to the point it is at today, there are cardinal big problems that fossil fuels create song pollution When cars burn gaso field, they would i superintendly burn it perfectly and create zero point but carbon dioxide and water in their exhaust. Unfortunately, the internal combustion engine is not perfect. In the process of burning the gasoline, it also produces * Carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas * Nitrogen oxides, the main source of urban smog * Unburned hydrocarbons, the main source of urban ozone Catalytic converters eliminate much of this pollution, but t hey arent perfect. cinch pollution from cars and power plants is a real problem in big cities. It is bad enough now that, in the summer, many cities take hold dangerous levels of ozone in the air. Environmental pollution The process of transporting and storing oil has a big impact on the environment whenever something goes wrong. An oil spill, pipeline fit or well fire can create a massive mess. The Exxon Valdez spill is the best known example of the problem, but minor spills notice constantly. Global warming When you burn a gallon of gas in your car, you emit close to 5 pounds (2. 3 kg) of carbon into the atmosphere.If it were solid carbon, it would be extremely noticeable &8212 it would be like throwing a 5-pound bag of saccharide out the window of your car for every gallon of gas burned. except because the 5 pounds of carbon comes out as an invisible gas, carbon dioxide, nigh of us are oblivious to it. The carbon dioxide coming out of every cars tailpipe is a nursery g as that is slowly raising the temperature of the planet. The ultimate effect are unknown, but it is a strong possibility that, eventually, there impart be dramatic climate changes that affect everyone on the planet.For example, if the ice caps melt, ocean level will rise significantly, flooding and destroying all coastal cities in existence today. Thats a big side effect. Dependence The join States, and well-nigh former(a) countries, cannot produce enough oil to meet demand, so they write it from oil-rich countries. That creates an frugal dependence. When Middle East oil producers decide to raise the toll of oil, the rest of the world has little choice but to pay the high(prenominal) harm. Stakeholders One of direct stakeholders in this case is The United States government, which monitors nuclear companies with with(predicate) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.The NRC regulates reactors through inspection, licensing, and performance assessments. Since 1990s, nuclear buil d has been expeditiously ruled out until the year 2006, following review if the energy indemnity overturned opposition of the government towards new nuclear. In order to assuage new nuclear formation, the government has implemented various measures like be adrift planning process, making sure that regulations are well equipped in order to pre-license designs regarding new created proposals (World nuclear Association, 2013).Exelon Corporation is one of the nations starring(p) belligerent providers of energy with approximately $23. 5 billion tax enhancement annually. The confederacy participated in all stages of energy business that is from generation to the warlike sales of energy to transmission and finally to delivery. Exelon provides energy services and products to well-nigh 100,000 populace and business sector customers as well as al intimately one million of residential customers. The attach tos employees are normally devoted to safety. In this case, they are highl y skilled employees and simultaneously beget training in order to make their safe job practices safer. each employee has 100% accountability (Exelons, website). Exelons commitment towards the environment is essential to their embodied strategy. Their objectives include capitalizing their environment leadership as well as providing safe, clean, low-priced and reliable electricity that caters transition of the American to sustainable future energy. However, the companys early dedication to responsible, low carbon energy ad jeopardy has enabled it creating advantage to their stakeholders while limiting their impacts towards the environment (Exelons website).Because of the pluralistic society that the United States has, special interest groups can hold back a large negative impact on nuclear companies by protesting or picketing. earlier Solutions Different ways have been tried to let the general accommodate the fact that nuclear power resources are better off past fossil fuel r esources. Driving electric cars will be one way when we can use renewable energy to charge the cars. United Arab Emirates One way the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) was able to annex public support for its nuclear power was through a public outreach program.According to a poll conducted by the re search consultancy firm TNS, the ENEC was able to annex public sensation of nuclear power by 13% over last year (Mustafa). The success of ENECs public consciousness campaign can be seen through the increase of respondents in esteem of UAE using nuclear power (Mustafa). The percent of people who supported nuclear power increased from 66% to 82% in one year. The respondents of the poll were so much in favor of nuclear power they are even willing let a plant be make where they live (Mustafa). The USA is the worlds largest producer of nuclear power, accounting for more than 30% of worldwide nuclear generation of electricity. * The countrys 104 nuclear reactors produced 821 b illion kWh in 2011, over 19% of total electrical output.There are now 102 units executable and three under winding. * Following a 30-year period in which hardly a(prenominal) new reactors were built, it is expected that 4-6 new units may come on line by 2020, the first of those resulting from 16 licence applications made since mid-2007 to build 24 new nuclear reactors. However, lower gas prices since 2009 have put the economic viability of some of these projects in doubt. * government policy changes since the late 1990s have helped pave the way for significant growth in nuclear capacity. giving medication and industry are working closely on expedited cheers for gimmick and new plant designs. Recommendations We advise using edification intimately nuclear power to transmit the pros of nuclear power and make it a yet generally suitable energy and educate populace about it.Media (Discovery bloodline & NAT GEO) is a great tool to give awareness about the benefits of nuclear power over fossil fuels and rebuild nuclear powers reputation. Nuclear is power is safer than separate resources but it is seemingly as dangerous. Learning programs have raised knowledge about nuclear power and results in benediction like in the United Arab Emirates. We also suggest having stakeholder seminar discussions and citizens panels like other developed nations. Stakeholders get empowered when they are involved in last making. Conclusion We can conclude that replacing the oil color fuel used in the entire fleet of U.S. vehicles with ethanol and biodiesel in the next iv years, even in blended form would significantly, though temporarily centre CO2 emissions. This change would replace the exponential growth rate of CO2emissions with a linear one which continues to be problematic because it is still consistently increasing. Furthermore, this forceful measure would not sufficiently tighten up greenhouse gas emissions to for good curb globular warming. Thus, using alte rnative fuels for transportation ought to be supplemented with other significant changes. This does not even take nto account the economic, environmental and righteous problems and questions which arise in the shift from the production and transportation of traditional petroleum fuels to biofuels. And, of course, this study has been limited to the United States, which contributes a diminished (though significant) percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. Clearly, ethanol and biodiesel are environmentally responsible alternatives to petroleum-based gasoline and diesel, and are a good transitional option in what needs to be ball-shaped effort in slowing greenhouse gas emissions and world(prenominal) warming.Fossil FuelsFossil fuels have been a widely used source of energy every since the Industrial Revolution just before the pass over of the 20th century. Fossil fuels are relatively easy to use to soften energy because they only require a simple direct combustion. However, a probl em with fossil fuels is their environmental impact. Not only does their excavation from the ground significantly alter the environment, but their combustion leads to a great deal of air pollution. Fossil and nuclear plants are capable of producing significant amounts of power. Plants in the gigawatt (billions of watts) range are common.Modern cities need large amounts of reliable electricity, more than what many alternative sources can currently deliver. Businesses should educate people about what benefits they can get out of nuclear versus fossil fuels. One of the leading and biggest Corporations in nuclear filed is Exelon Corporation. The Exelon Corporation could educate citizens of the United States about the need to get off fossil fuels, the relative improvement begot from nuclear and rejoinder societys misconceptions on the dangers of nuclear energy.Background/ Context of Issue. The cost for building and operating a power plant is lower for fossil fuels. This remains true even though environmental concerns have added to their costs. For the bunco term, these fuels are the easiest to produce. Nuclear fuel, though much less of it is needed, requires significant, costly close to bring the ores to useful purity. At the end of its productive life, a nuclear plant must be decommissioned, a costly process. We burn fossil fuels to get energy from them. This is called combustion. Technically, the products of combustion are carbon dioxide and water.But with most fuels combustion is incomplete. Ashes escape into the air or accumulate in the furnace, requiring disposal. In 2009, carbon dioxide is seen as a major factor in global warming. Spent fuel nuclear fuel rods, no longer able to make power, are still highly radioactive. They must be guardedly stored for at least hundreds of years. Interstate shipments of radioactive wastes are controversial no one wants the potential for nuclear accidents in their home state. Nuclear power has seen two major applications la rge, stationary electric ower plants and propulsion for naval vessels. The glum shielding around a reactor limits other uses. Nuclear aircraft engines and other applications have been explored, but the heaviness of the reactor and the chance of contamination from accidents postponement these from serious consideration. Fossil fuels are used in things as small as lighters and big as power plants. In liquid form, they can be conveniently stored and distributed. Hazards such as toxicity and flammability exist but dont pose long-term problems the same as nuclear fuels do.Reserves fee-tail many complex factors. Geologists can determine the extent of proven reserves, though these can be over- or understated for political reasons. New finds are reported frequently. Consumption, which determines how long reserves will, last, is variable, driven by economic conditions. At current rates of use, the world has enough coal for 200 years, oil for 40 years and natural gas for 60 years. Uranium reserves are good for 50 years, though technologies such as breeder reactors can, in theory, stretch that to more than 1,000.Currently, the United States and most of the world is locked into what could be called the fossil fuel economy. Our automobiles, trains and planes are fueled most exclusively by petroleum products like gasoline and diesel. A huge percentage of our power plants use oil, natural gas and coal for their fuel. If the flow of fossil fuels to the United States were ever cut off, the economy would come to a halt. There would be no way to transport the products that factories produce. There would be no way for people to drive to work. The whole economy, and in fact the whole of western society, currently depends on fossil fuels.While fossil fuels have vie an important role in getting society to the point it is at today, there are four big problems that fossil fuels create Air pollution When cars burn gasoline, they would ideally burn it perfectly and create zip bu t carbon dioxide and water in their exhaust. Unfortunately, the internal combustion engine is not perfect. In the process of burning the gasoline, it also produces * Carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas * Nitrogen oxides, the main source of urban smog * Unburned hydrocarbons, the main source of urban ozone Catalytic converters eliminate much of this pollution, but they arent perfect.Air pollution from cars and power plants is a real problem in big cities. It is bad enough now that, in the summer, many cities have dangerous levels of ozone in the air. Environmental pollution The process of transporting and storing oil has a big impact on the environment whenever something goes wrong. An oil spill, pipeline fusillade or well fire can create a huge mess. The Exxon Valdez spill is the best known example of the problem, but minor spills choke constantly. Global warming When you burn a gallon of gas in your car, you emit about 5 pounds (2. 3 kg) of carbon into the atmosphere.If it were so lid carbon, it would be extremely noticeable &8212 it would be like throwing a 5-pound bag of pelf out the window of your car for every gallon of gas burned. But because the 5 pounds of carbon comes out as an invisible gas, carbon dioxide, most of us are oblivious to it. The carbon dioxide coming out of every cars tailpipe is a greenhouse gas that is slowly raising the temperature of the planet. The ultimate do are unknown, but it is a strong possibility that, eventually, there will be dramatic climate changes that affect everyone on the planet.For example, if the ice caps melt, sea level will rise significantly, flooding and destroying all coastal cities in existence today. Thats a big side effect. Dependence The United States, and most other countries, cannot produce enough oil to meet demand, so they import it from oil-rich countries. That creates an economic dependence. When Middle East oil producers decide to raise the price of oil, the rest of the world has little choice bu t to pay the higher price. Stakeholders One of direct stakeholders in this case is The United States government, which monitors nuclear companies through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.The NRC regulates reactors through inspection, licensing, and performance assessments. Since 1990s, nuclear build has been efficiently ruled out until the year 2006, following review if the energy policy overturned opposition of the government towards new nuclear. In order to relieve new nuclear formation, the government has implemented various measures like cyclosis planning process, making sure that regulations are well equipped in order to pre-license designs regarding new created proposals (World nuclear Association, 2013).Exelon Corporation is one of the nations leading competitive providers of energy with roughly $23. 5 billion revenue annually. The company participated in all stages of energy business that is from generation to the competitive sales of energy to transmission and finally to delivery. Exelon provides energy services and products to almost 100,000 public and business sector customers as well as almost one million of residential customers. The companys employees are commonly devoted to safety. In this case, they are highly skilled employees and simultaneously find oneself training in order to make their safe job practices safer. all employee has 100% accountability (Exelons, website). Exelons commitment towards the environment is essential to their unified strategy. Their objectives include capitalizing their environment leadership as well as providing safe, clean, affordable and reliable electricity that caters transition of the American to sustainable future energy. However, the companys early dedication to responsible, low carbon energy venture has enabled it creating advantage to their stakeholders while limiting their impacts towards the environment (Exelons website).Because of the pluralistic society that the United States has, special interest groups can have a large negative impact on nuclear companies by protesting or picketing. earlier Solutions Different ways have been tried to let the public lease the fact that nuclear power resources are better off therefore fossil fuel resources. Driving electric cars will be one way when we can use renewable energy to charge the cars. United Arab Emirates One way the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) was able to increase public support for its nuclear power was through a public outreach program.According to a poll conducted by the research consultancy firm TNS, the ENEC was able to increase public awareness of nuclear power by 13% over last year (Mustafa). The success of ENECs public awareness campaign can be seen through the increase of respondents in favor of UAE using nuclear power (Mustafa). The percent of people who supported nuclear power increased from 66% to 82% in one year. The respondents of the poll were so much in favor of nuclear power they are even willin g let a plant be built where they live (Mustafa). The USA is the worlds largest producer of nuclear power, accounting for more than 30% of worldwide nuclear generation of electricity. * The countrys 104 nuclear reactors produced 821 billion kWh in 2011, over 19% of total electrical output.There are now 102 units executable and three under construction. * Following a 30-year period in which some new reactors were built, it is expected that 4-6 new units may come on line by 2020, the first of those resulting from 16 licence applications made since mid-2007 to build 24 new nuclear reactors. However, lower gas prices since 2009 have put the economic viability of some of these projects in doubt. * Government policy changes since the late 1990s have helped pave the way for significant growth in nuclear capacity. Government and industry are working closely on expedited approval for construction and new plant designs. Recommendations We advise using edification about nuclear power to tran smit the pros of nuclear power and make it a barely generally suitable energy and educate populace about it.Media (Discovery stemma & NAT GEO) is a great tool to give awareness about the benefits of nuclear power over fossil fuels and rebuild nuclear powers reputation. Nuclear is power is safer than other resources but it is seemingly as dangerous. Learning programs have raised knowledge about nuclear power and results in approval like in the United Arab Emirates. We also suggest having stakeholder seminar discussions and citizens panels like other developed nations. Stakeholders get empowered when they are involved in stopping point making. Conclusion We can conclude that replacing the petroleum fuel used in the entire fleet of U.S. vehicles with ethanol and biodiesel in the next four years, even in blended form would significantly, though temporarily reduce CO2 emissions. This change would replace the exponential growth rate of CO2emissions with a linear one which continues to be problematic because it is still consistently increasing. Furthermore, this forceful measure would not sufficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions to for good curb global warming. Thus, using alternative fuels for transportation ought to be supplemented with other significant changes. This does not even take nto account the economic, environmental and lesson problems and questions which arise in the shift from the production and transportation of traditional petroleum fuels to biofuels. And, of course, this study has been limited to the United States, which contributes a small (though significant) percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. Clearly, ethanol and biodiesel are environmentally responsible alternatives to petroleum-based gasoline and diesel, and are a good transitional option in what needs to be global effort in slowing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.