Why Natural Gas Is Better Than Coal?

1 What is coal? Coal is a substance we consider today a fossil fuel, created from all the dead plants millions of years ago. Coal is formed from prehistoric plants that when they die are not able to release the energy they built up from photosynthesis Typically the plants had fallen into large swamps and bogs, and then over time the dead plants lying on the bottom of the swamps and bogs were slowly covered with other dead plants and sediment build-up. Once buried the plants were subjected to high amounts of pressure and temperatures, which over long periods of time it becomes peat then eventually creates coal. We refer to coal as a “fossil fuel” today because it is created from prehistoric plants and the coal we have today has been millions of years since it was in plant form. Today we coal is still being created we just don’t fully recognize it because how long the process actually takes.

Last year, however, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that 84 (TCF) will be usable from the shale and will be made available primarily through fracturing.(Fowler) New underground imaging practices and different methods to survey shale formations are providing even more natural gas availability than we ever thought possible. When speaking of cleaner and more locally available energy more is definitely better.

While oil and natural gas are fossil fuels that release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, these energy sources are cleaner than coal, which is on the decline as fracking expands. Indeed, coal production fell thirteen percent from 2007 to 2012, as did nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide production. Moreover, pipeline transportation of oil and natural gas is significantly safer than traditional freight methods, which have devastated many communities around the world and cost millions of dollars.

Natural gas has supplied energy to humanity since the 19th century, it offers great jobs, and is more affordable than other energy sources. Without fossil fuels/natural gas it would harder and more expensive to have everyday energy. With fracking being a big part in today’s world, people still wonder if the chemicals used are really dangerous and if there is another way to make them more earth

Coal is the dirtiest of all fossil fuels. When burned, it produces emissions that contribute to global warming, create acid rain and pollute water. With all of the talk surrounding nuclear energy, hydropower and biofuels, you might be forgiven for thinking that grimy coal is finally on its way out. On the other hand, coal is no sooty remnant of the Industrial Revolution - it generates half of the electricity in the United States and will likely continue to do so as long as it's cheap and plentiful . Clean coal technology seeks to reduce harsh environmental effects by using multiple technologies to clean. Coal is a fossil fuel composed primarily of carbons and hydrocarbons. Its ingredients help make plastics, tar and fertilizers. A coal derivative, a solidified carbon called coke, melts iron ore and reduces it to create steel. But most coal - 92 percent of the U.S. supply - goes into power production .Electric companies and businesses with power plants burn coal to make the steam that turns turbines and generates electricity. When coal burns, it releases carbon dioxide and other emissions in flue gas, the billowing clouds you see pouring out of smoke stacks. Some clean coal technologies purify the coal before it burns. One type of coal preparation, coal washing, removes unwanted minerals by mixing crushed coal with a liquid and allowing the impurities to separate and settle. Other systems control the coal burn to minimize emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and

W hy does everyone care so much about natural gas? Why is it such an essential part of modern culture? Sure, it's an exciting and up and coming technology, which is fuel for the technological generation that we've grown up in, but we need to take a closer look to see the methods and impacts that could affect generations after us.

The Industrial Revolution created a society and energy consumption based on coal. However, in a more traditional society, natural gas has been obtained through oil drilling. While

Since coal pollutes the air and gives off a lot of carbon dioxide, many European nations switched to natural gas or nuclear power to produce electricity.

Because of technical improvements, nonrenewables are found, extracted, and employed more efficiently than ever. Since 2000, companies have located more natural gas sources in the United States. This occurred because of advances in exploration methods. New ways to process coal have led to fewer impurities. The energy efficiency of coal has also improved so that more energy can be created from less coal.

As fracking is a good process of drilling natural gas, there must be questions like, “Is natural gas alternative?” “How long could people keep drilling?” “Is it environmental friendly?” Actually natural gas is alternative energy and natural form of energy, which can be used to replace traditional fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel (Fracking, 2014a). , The use of natural gas will benefit environment by reducing the harmful polluting emission, for example, SO2 and NO released into the atmosphere. The main constitute of natural gas is CH4 which is less threatening compared with conventional fossil fuel like coal. For the amount of the natural gas, it is very tough to measure the precise data, but new technologies are available everyday. What’s more, there are more rules and new standards of fracking by EPA. Howard Feldman, regulatory director of the American Petroleum Institute, said the EPA would phase in the requirements, requiring all oil and natural-gas wells to be in compliance by January 2015

Natural gas has been found to be so much safer to use to heat a house than with an electric heater. Heating a home with natural gas is much safer than heating a home with electric. Electric heaters are known for catching fire, sparking, and burning. The most common thing electric heaters are known for is shorting out and causing the electric sockets to burn. Electric heaters are not always the warmest things they take a very long time to heat homes even if they’re not all that small. Natural gas heaters take less time to heat any sized home and heats the home almost 100% warmer. Natural gas is 120 to 140 degrees warmer than any other heat, can be used to heat water, and to heat your pool outside. There are many reasons to love natural gas, it’s easier to install and transport, its warmer, cooks faster, and is better to use as fuel. One thing no one is told when natural gas is used is if it leaks and no one knows the chance of getting carbon monoxide poisoning is very

CO2 is the most significant greenhouse gas, which mainly comes from the use of fossil fuels. Many people feel that content of CO2 in the atmosphere is the main reason for manmade global warming. The main sources of CO2 emissions involve electricity generation, industrial processes, fumes from transportation and commercial buildings and use. Emissions of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, to the atmosphere are expected to cause even more of a significant change in global climate (Davison, 2007). The main focus to try to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is to reduce the amount that is released from coal-fired power plants. Greenhouse gas emissions that involve the productions of electricity come from natural gas production and coal-fired power plant operations. Natural gas production accounts for twenty-four percent and coal-fired power plant operations accounts for seventy-five percent, while the other one percent is caused by other electricity generation operations. The main reason why coal-fired power plants have a higher percentage of emissions is because the sulfur content of coal is much higher than that of other fossil fuels (Jarmaillo et al., 2007). This proves that there is a great need to find an alternative fossil fuel to use instead of coal. Although coal is easy to mine, transport and process for the electricity generation process, it is also the

Natural gas is another means of energy source that provides heating and electricity to many individuals. It is a natural mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide. Natural gas was first found back in 1626 when the French found the natives lighting gas seeping in and out of the ground around Lake Erie. When natural gas was first introduced into civilization as a means of energy source it was not efficient nor was it environmentally friendly. It was first in the United States in Baltimore, Maryland in 1816 when it was used to light the street lamps. The first well that was dug for Natural Gas purposes was in 1821 in Fredonia, New York by William Hart. He is known as the “father of natural gas: in

Natural gas is made into energy when CPS Energy operates 14 gas units to complement its energy generation efforts with coal, nuclear and renewable energy. The turbines suck in air, mix it with the fuel and ignite a fireball. The hot gases from the fireball impact the blades of the turbine to cause motion, creating mechanical energy. The generator converts the mechanical energy into electricity before it is transmitted for customer use. (CPS Energy, 2013)

With the carbon emission regulations recently introduced by US government, natural gas is the most likely substitution to coal for electricity generation for years to come. Latest price reductions made natural gas from a cost perspective much more attractive than coal.