Wyoming and Montana (cleaner and more accessible) are now the main coal fields of the USA: moving from east to west Large reserves (27% of world total) COAL LIMITATIONS: Consumes about 20% of world total Coal consumption 20% greater than a decade ago LIMIATATIONS: USA is responsible for 23% of global CO2 emissions And has not ratified the 1997 Kyoto agreement to limit emissions Research is underway to develop power plants which emit no C02 development of the Alaskan field ( production is increasing!) Fossil fuels + Environment The Gulf of Mexico is likely to be an important future domestic source of oil Even Bush in 2007 changed his position on global warming OIL And Obama's 2010 Recovery and Reinvestment Act put $80 billion into clean energy investments Energy: world's leading energy producer (17%), LIMITATIONS:World’s greatest consumer of electricity AFTER CHINA... Consumption growing fast (20% higher than a decade ago) World’s greatest generator of electricity (25% of world total) Over 50% from coal: making the USA a significant contributor to global warming Exporting large amounts to Canada and Mexico (through NAFTA) World’s largest nuclear power industry; with over 100 plants (Clean, safe, practical, ‘cheap’ alternative to global warming) Large supplies of uranium LIMITATIONS: A history of accidents since Three Mile Island, With usual problems of transportation, disposal and security As well as post 9/11 terrorist risks LIMITATIONS: World’s greatest consumer (25%) of oil Consumption growing fast 15% greater than a decade ago 24% of US consumed oil is imported 20% comes from the Persian Gulf GENERAL LIMITATIONS Electricity NUCLEAR World’s third leading oil producer The world’s leading energy consumer AFTER CHINA... World’s leading energy importer Consuming significantly more than it produces
