Basic Model of Electricity Production:

• Coal, oil, or natural gas is burned to produce heat to boil water.
• The steam from the boiling water spins a large fan called a turbine.
• The turbine rotates a large magnet to create an electrical charge.

Coal, oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are substances formed over the course of thousands of years from plant and animal matter decomposition and cannot be replenished on a human timeframe. Once these fuels are used up, they are gone forever!

When coal, natural gas and oil are burned, they release carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, methane, and mercury compounds into the surroundings. These chemicals contribute to air pollution, acid rain, water and soil contamination, and global warming (an increase of the Earth's overall temperature that affects ecosystems across the globe).

In the U.S. over 85% of energy comes from fossil fuels. Because the U.S. relies heavily on imported oil to satisfy its petroleum needs, it would be difficult for the U.S. to achieve energy independence and enhance national security without turning to another energy source.

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a greenhouse gas. It traps heat in the lowest part of the earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming and affecting ecosystems around the world.
• Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is a key contributor to acid rain.
• Nitrogen oxides include compounds like nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide, which play an important role in the atmospheric reactions that create acid rain and ground-level ozone. High concentrations of ground-level ozone are harmful to people, animals, crops, and other materials.
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