Causes

What's Going On | Solid Waste Pollution | Water Pollution | Air Pollution | Energy Pollution

Effects

Global Warming | Health Problems

Ever drive by the rail line on Southern Avenue on a cold winter day? You’ll see rail cars as far as the eye can see – literally miles long – of coal.

More than 85% of the energy used in the United States comes from fossil fuels - coal, oil, and natural gas. This accounts for two-thirds of our electricity and basically all of our transportation fuels. Unfortunately, this high reliance on these fossil fuels comes with a price.

Burning oil and coil produces nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and mercury compounds. These are known to be hazardous to human health and to the ozone layer that protects the earth from UV Rays.

The burning of natural gas can produce nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. Methane, the main component of natural gas, and a greenhouse gas, can also be emitted into the air when natural gas is burned. Emissions of sulfur dioxide and mercury compounds from burning natural gas may also be harmful. Compared to the average air emissions from burning coal, natural gas produces half as much carbon dioxide, less than a third as much nitrogen oxides, and one percent as much sulfur oxides.

EPA's Clean Energy Program