Climate change and pollution are serious global issues. Recently, cities such as New Delhi and Beijing have been plagued by unprecedented levels of smog, leading to riots and unrest. Greenhouse gases have greatly increased the temperature of our atmosphere and are upsetting the Earth’s fragile balance as an ecosystem. Consequently, in 2016, the arctic ice sheet was the smallest ever recorded, but most worryingly, according to NASA, the past 13 years have had the 13 smallest ice sheets on record (NASA, 2016 Arctic Sea Ice Wintertime Extent Hits Another Record Low). The National Ice and Snow Data Center claims that a loss of the entire Greenland ice sheet could result in a sea level increase of 20 feet, enough to flood many major metropolitan
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Coal, oil, and natural gas are proven technologies, are much cheaper than any other energy source, and provide massive amounts of electricity. Due to the aforementioned consequences of relying on fossil fuels, however, it is time to find a new energy source. Nuclear energy is often seen as dangerous, with its opponents warning of possible apocalyptic explosions and Chernobyl-esque radiation poisoning. This interpretation, however, is terribly flawed. Nuclear energy is much safer and cleaner than the current alternatives such as coal or natural gas, and is more economically feasible and efficient than the “green” options, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. Despite the positives, nuclear energy has serious drawbacks, ranging from the initial cost to the disposal of radioactive waste. Nevertheless, nuclear energy is the best form of alternative energy currently available due to its safety, lack of emissions, and high energy production, among other …show more content…
Unlike coal, however, natural gas is dangerous because of the method of extraction, and not the actual burning. This is because natural gas is acquired through a process called hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, where a shaft is dug into the ground thousands of feet deep. Once the shaft is made, a water and chemical mixture along with sand is added to break the bedrock and allow the gas or oil trapped inside to escape. This mixture is highly toxic and wasteful, as, according to the EPA, it can contain up to 15 million gallons of water and chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, carbonic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and boric acid (EPA fracking analysis report Tables ES-1, G-1, G-3). Many of these chemicals are not required to be disclosed due to the “Halliburton loophole” law, and the fluid can contain several hundred different chemicals. The EPA claims that “In a survey of 14 leading oil and gas service companies, Waxman et al. (2011) found that the additives used contained 750 chemicals.”(Analysis of hydraulic fracturing fluid data (3.1)). The fracking fluid is supposed to remain isolated underground, but if it were to leak into an aquifer or water source, the results would be potentially devastating. Additionally, gas leakage from the wells can heavily pollute the air near the drill site. Joe Hoffman from Carleton College writes “NOAA scientists found the Weld County gas wells to be equal
Coal, oil, and natural gas are proven technologies, are much cheaper than any other energy source, and provide massive amounts of electricity. Due to the aforementioned consequences of relying on fossil fuels, however, it is time to find a new energy source. Nuclear energy is often seen as dangerous, with its opponents warning of possible apocalyptic explosions and Chernobyl-esque radiation poisoning. This interpretation, however, is terribly flawed. Nuclear energy is much safer and cleaner than the current alternatives such as coal or natural gas, and is more economically feasible and efficient than the “green” options, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. Despite the positives, nuclear energy has serious drawbacks, ranging from the initial cost to the disposal of radioactive waste. Nevertheless, nuclear energy is the best form of alternative energy currently available due to its safety, lack of emissions, and high energy production, among other …show more content…
Unlike coal, however, natural gas is dangerous because of the method of extraction, and not the actual burning. This is because natural gas is acquired through a process called hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, where a shaft is dug into the ground thousands of feet deep. Once the shaft is made, a water and chemical mixture along with sand is added to break the bedrock and allow the gas or oil trapped inside to escape. This mixture is highly toxic and wasteful, as, according to the EPA, it can contain up to 15 million gallons of water and chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, carbonic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and boric acid (EPA fracking analysis report Tables ES-1, G-1, G-3). Many of these chemicals are not required to be disclosed due to the “Halliburton loophole” law, and the fluid can contain several hundred different chemicals. The EPA claims that “In a survey of 14 leading oil and gas service companies, Waxman et al. (2011) found that the additives used contained 750 chemicals.”(Analysis of hydraulic fracturing fluid data (3.1)). The fracking fluid is supposed to remain isolated underground, but if it were to leak into an aquifer or water source, the results would be potentially devastating. Additionally, gas leakage from the wells can heavily pollute the air near the drill site. Joe Hoffman from Carleton College writes “NOAA scientists found the Weld County gas wells to be equal