Author: emmwa

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A greener future begins with a shift to coal alternatives

A greener future begins with a shift to coal alternatives. IMF. (2022, December 8). Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2020/12/08/blog-a-greener-future-begins-with-a-shift-to-coal-alternatives 

In this article its main topic is to shift away from coal, and take necessary steps towards a more green future. Coal is one of the  major contributors to local pollution and climate change in the U.S. Coal is accounting for 44% of global CO2 emissions. The consumption of coal is expected to recover as the U.S economy emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, but many countries are taking steps to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, especially coal. Moving away from coal can be difficult due to several problems. Including the industrial use of coal being hard to replace, coal power plants are long-living assets, and the potential losses for the domestic mining industry and its workers. However, stricter environmental policies, carbon taxes, and affordable energy substitutes such as natural gas.. To fully phase out coal, it will take the support of many countries and finding another source of energy.

 

Out of these articles I enjoyed reading this the most because it gives us examples of what alternatives we can use. And given hard evidence, this relates to APES agenda because it gives specific examples on how there are alternative ways to create power without the use of dirty coal. My reaction to this article was kind of normal but I enjoyed reading it.     

 

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Quitting fossil fuels and reviving Rural America. Center for American Progress

 

Director, D., Molof, D., Manager, N. F. S., Fowler, N., Manager, S., So, K., Rowland-Shea,  J., Villagomez, A., Manser, K., Christianson, A., Avia, L., & Williamson, M. W. (2022, November 4). Quitting fossil fuels and reviving Rural America. Center for American Progress. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from https://www.americanprogress.org/article/quitting-fossil-fuels-and-reviving-rural-america/ 

 

Many coal based towns/cities in the  U.S. are facing significant economic challenges due to the declining use of coal for energy production and the downfall of coal-fired power plants and mines. The loss of coal revenue has led to layoffs, reduced services, and increased taxes and fees. The situation in Big Horn County, Montana serves as an example of the impacts of coal revenue loss on communities. A federal policy framework is needed to address revenue dependence and disentangle local economies from reliance on oil and gas revenue. The Center for American Progress recommends establishing an Energy and Resource Legacy Fund, which would replace annual revenue-sharing payments from fossil fuel production with stable, permanent distributions, and a Rural Investment Council to manage the fund. This solution would provide a predictable source of income for communities transitioning away from fossil fuels, at no cost to U.S. taxpayers.

 

This relates to our APES topic due to the fact that it gives us a complete run down on the pros and cons of eliminating fossil fuels. Even though eliminating fossil fuel would be great for our plant. Many countries’ cities and towns are economically built by fossil fuels and many people have lives based on selling or producing fossil fuels. I enjoyed reading this article because it gave me 2 different perspectives on fossil fuels and gave me an understanding that fossil fuels are still needed in today’s world. 

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EIA – independent statistics and analysis. Coal   and the environment

U.S. Energy Information Administration – EIA – independent statistics and analysis. Coal   and the environment – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2022, November 16). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/coal-and-the-environment.php 

Coal mining, particularly surface mining, has significant environmental impacts including changing and damaging the landscape, burying streams, and releasing pollutants and toxins into the water and air. Also underground mining has risks such as ground collapse and release of acidic water. Burning coal releases various harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, carbon dioxide, mercury, and ash residues. The U.S. government has imposed laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to reduce the pollution released. The coal industry has made efforts to reduce pollutants by using scrubbers and cleaning coal, while research is underway to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and mercury through carbon capture and sequestration methods.

 

In this article made by the U.S energy info administration complementary relates to our APES class/idea. In this article it gives us detailed information on how coal is extracted and the effect of mining it. Also mentions chemicals such as mercury and other hazardous material that would damage any biomass. In my opinion it’s progress that people are trying to create less emission with coal scrubber and using clean coal. So it’s becoming better over time.  

 

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. Power Plants and Neighboring   Communities

Environmental Protection Agency. (2022, September 3). Power Plants and Neighboring   Communities. EPA. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/power-plants-and-neighboring-communities 

The US Environmental Protection Agency) has given information on communities living near fossil fuel-fired power plants to raise awareness about the disproportionate impact these communities face from power plant emissions. The information is presented in  maps and graphs and includes information on six key demographics, including low-income population, people of color, and population over age 64. The data is based on communities within a three-mile radius of power plants and includes the percentage of each demographic in each community. The map and graph showed the amount of power plants located in or near communities that meet or exceed the 80th percentile nationally for each key demographic. 

The EPA article gives many points of the impacts of our plant but also gives us a demographic explanation on the effect of power plants in low income areas and how race and age etc could affect what you’re exposed to. This relates to APES due to the environmental impacts and how humans are impacted. I was very surprised by the amount of chemicals that people are exposed to. And some of these chemical can lead to cancer which was even more shocking  

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2022’s biggest climate change Bill pushes Clean Energy

Ogasa, N. (2022, December 14). 2022’s biggest climate change Bill pushes Clean Energy. SciencNews.RetrievedJanuary30,2023,fromhttps://www.sciencenews.org/article/2022+-climate-change-bill-legislation-clean-energy 

 The Inflation Reduction Act, was signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022, This has been one of the biggest investments the United States has made towards neutralizing greenhouse gas emissions. This act has the support of $369 billion to accelerate wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources. It will help cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by around 40% of the levels in 2005, with the goal of fulfilling the goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. The act also creates tax credits to reduce the cost for companies to adopt clean energy, helps the average American transition away from fossil fuels, and invests in clean energy for the future.

This article has a huge impact on mining of fossil fuels. This act’s main goal is to switch from unsustainable energy through fossil fuels and transition into clean energy such as hydro and solar and many other green options. This correlates with APES because it creates a better tomorrow for all and creates less co2 emission to be placed into the atmosphere. And besides this act will probably be one of the best things for this plant. We are finally heavily investing into clean energy 

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Mining Fossil Fuels & Power Plants

Human  Rights Watch. (2022, August 29). Bosnia-and-herzegovina -deadly-air-pollution

-killing-thousands Retrieved August 28,2022 from https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/08/29/

Bosnia-and-herzegovina-deadly-air-pollution-killing-thousands

This article is about Bosnia and has affected many citizens and some tourists of the city. Due to heavy air pollution people have started to pass away due to high levels of toxic material from coal and other heavy smogs. And the surprising thing is according to the human rights watch this is happening right now. With all of these toxic fumes it has created a harder environment for humans and to be honest anything organic at all. 

How does this have anything to do with environmental science? Our goal is to protect our world. And we have fallen short and with that the loss of life has happened. Many adults and children have suffered from this. And has not only affected humans but everything that is organic. In my opinion we still have time and everything counts. 

 

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Mining Fossil Fuels & Power Plants

Client Earth. (2022, February 18). Latest-updates/stories/fossil-fuels-and-climate-change-the-facts  

Retrieved August 28,2022 from https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/stories 

/fossil-fuels-and-climate-change-the-facts/  

 

These are all places that are near water that would affect The article tells us How the earth has changed due to  mining fossil fuels & power plants. Since the industrial revolution humans have been on an incline with many and new problems arising. Such as climate change, the earth is already 1.5 celsius hotter. And with this impact sea level may rise. Imagine the damage if the sea rose a couple of feet. The most popular and populated city will all be in a flood. The damage would be chaos. Also most large companies are based in large cities the damage would be insane. 

 

If all the ice melted in the world the statue of liberty would have water at her elbow. Most cities would be under water. And how does this affect our environment? It would probably change our way of life if this happened. This is all related to APES due to the definitions and how our environment would be altered due to sea level rise from population. In my opinion we must change course. 

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Mining Fossil Fuels & Power Plants

NRDC. (2022, June 10). Fossil fuels-dirty facts. Retrieved August 28,2022 from https://www.nrdc.org 

/stories/fossil-fuels-dirty-facts

 

For more than a century we have been using cheap and unsustainable fossil fuels with almost no regard. With humans using these types of resources it has caused long term and short term damages to our planet. Anywhere in the world but in this article mostly mention the U.S of the mount of vehicles that we have.  We have been using coal power plants and other fossil fuels such as natural gas which is a little less worse. And oil to power most or all of our vehicles used for transportation. With so many countries and people using these resources  on a daily basis it has caused air and water pollution which has made many marine ecosystems suffer from acidic levels in the oceans to high Co2 levels. This causes Marine shellfish to be harder to survive. 

 

In this article  it tells us some certain effects it has on wildlife.While these resources are needed the way we get them is not the best way. With heavy deforestation and land degradation has caused many habitats and ecosystems to be heavily populated or destroyed. This has made wild animals lose their homes and has caused them to migrate elsewhere. And has also destroyed breeding grounds which make a species have a harder time surviving. Also animals aren’t the only ones being affected as we are as more and more pollution is happening we are breathing more and more toxic fumes and also messing with some water supplies. So we must find ways to create a sustainable way and better tomorrow. 

 

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Mining Fossil Fuels & Power Plants

Forbes (2022, January10). Energy Predictions-Coal Decline accelerates Energy Predictions

Energy Predictions Coal Decline accelerates Federal funds spur clean energy millions of new    

electric vehicles and chargers. Retrieved August 28,2022 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/

energyinnovation/2022/01/10/2022-energy-predictions-coal-decline-accelerates-federal-funds-

spur-clean-energy-millions-of-new-electric-vehicles-and-chargers/?sh=5a24d08352b2

 

As again with new technology pacing us all forward we are starting to see many types of cheap and bad fuels that hurt our environment are starting a slow decline As other top countries start to rely on sustainable and better energy more and more will follow over time for a better future. Every year more and more coal power plants start to go offline to better and cleaner types of energy. This will create and better earth for us and the generations to come. Also powerful governments are also leading the way and creating legislation to make sure that we are on a decline for coal and on the incline for clean and sustainable energy.     

This article mentions how coal is on a downward spiral due to the legations and laws that are coming to life all over the world. As the world and our own country which have almost recovered from covid were able to focus on our own future. Also the article tells us that banks and other loan companies are starting to deny loans for any type of coal power plant type loan. Also the US and most of Europe are finally setting goals and are almost starting to meet them. But there are a couple of challenges for this, not every country has the ability to not use cheap power plants  and still have enough power for all their citizens and some countries such as China who burns a little over half of the world’s coal. 

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Mining Fossil Fuels & Power Plants


The Guardian. (2022, February18). Bitcoin miners-Revive Fossil Fuel Plant co2 Emissions soared?
Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/feb/18/bitcoin
-miners-revive-fossil-fuel-plant-co2-emissions-soared?CMP=fb_a-technology_b-gdntech

During this new Time in history there have been great ideas and ways to solve problems in much better ways and to make society better as a whole. But with some Ideas there are always pros and cons that could also hurt us. Just like Bitcoin mining, what is bitcoin mining is a large or small network of computers running Bitcoin code to make sure that all transactions are legitimate and added to the Bitcoin’s blockchain. With this new age and technology of banking there must be something needed to power all of this technology. Electricity is what has always been used to power computers and all electronic devices. But with this much demand for bitcoin mining people have been using cheaper ways to power it but at the cost of our environment.

 

Within the article it mentions a coal power plant  that was revived due to the power needs for Bitcoin mining in Montana USA. The coal power plant was closed in 2018 but has been open back up due to a Bitcoin mining facility nearby and needing a huge amount of power. Globally Bitcoin mining uses more power than Norway, a country with 5.3 million people. To note Bitcoin is not the only cryptocurrency to be mined, there are thousands of cryptocurrency some just being mined more than others. The amount of power needed made the coal power plant release 187,000 tons of carbon dioxide emitted in the second quarter just in 3 month and In the third quarter, a further 206,000 tons of CO2 was emitted, a 905% increase on 2020.  With all this Carbon we are supporting climate change and smog and acid rain are also factors of this. We all know that technology will always keep moving forwards but what if we could change the ways that  power it. For example Solar and Wind energy all quiote effective also hydro energy could be one to. But if we continue on this path it will only hurt us in the long term.