Greta Jimenez
Energy plants can cause pollution in a variety of ways. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, gas, and biomass, releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and mercury. These emissions contribute to climate change and have significant impacts on the health of nearby communities and the environment. Additionally, the extraction and transportation of fuels can also create pollution and harm workers and local ecosystems. Ash produced by burning solid fuels may be stored in retention ponds, which can pose risks to groundwater if unlined or if they burst. While efforts have been made to reduce emissions and capture pollutants, energy plants continue to be a significant source of pollution, affecting air, water, and land.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Burning fossil fuels | Coal, gas, oil, and biomass |
| Air pollutants | Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, mercury, and hazardous pollutants that can cause cancer |
| Particle pollution | Ash and soot |
| Greenhouse gases | Carbon dioxide, methane |
| Water pollution | Coal ash contaminates groundwater |
| Land pollution | Mountaintop removal and valley fill mining change the landscape |
| Transportation emissions | Diesel locomotives, pipelines, and storage facilities |
| Water pollution | Streams affected by coal mining operations |
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What You'll Learn
Burning fossil fuels
In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry. Coal is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, responsible for over 0.3°C of the 1°C increase in global average temperatures. Oil releases a huge amount of carbon when burned, accounting for approximately a third of the world's total carbon emissions. Natural gas, though promoted as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil, is still a fossil fuel, contributing to a fifth of the world's total carbon emissions.
The burning of fossil fuels also releases nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, contributing to the formation of smog and acid rain. Excess nitrogen in the form of nitrogen oxides or ammonia is deposited back onto land, eventually washing into nearby water bodies. These excess nutrients contribute to harmful algal blooms and oxygen-deprived aquatic zones, which are toxic to aquatic life. Fossil fuels also emit harmful air pollutants long before they are burned, including benzene and formaldehyde, which have been linked to serious health issues.
The extraction and transportation of fossil fuels also contribute to pollution. For instance, coal mining increases the risk of direct lung health impacts, including Black Lung Disease. Oil and gas exploration, drilling, and storage can create significant local air pollution issues, and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, can be a source of air emissions from natural gas development. The majority of coal is shipped by rail, and diesel locomotives are a source of pollution emissions. Oil and gas leaks from pipelines and storage facilities also drive health harms and worsen climate change.
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Ash and soot pollution
Soot, a product of incomplete combustion, is a fine black or brown powder composed of impure carbon particles. It is often sticky and adheres to surfaces like exhaust pipes and chimneys. Soot is a major environmental and health concern, as it contains black carbon, which absorbs a significantly higher amount of energy compared to carbon dioxide. This absorption contributes to climate change by leading to higher temperatures and the melting of ice and snow. Soot is also linked to respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. It increases the risk of cardiovascular issues, such as coronary artery disease, and causes "ghosting," the discoloration of walls and ceilings.
Energy plants, particularly coal-fired power plants, produce ash as a byproduct of combustion. The ash contains hazardous materials captured by pollution control devices. It is often mixed with water to form ash sludge, which is stored in retention ponds. However, these ponds pose risks to groundwater, and their failure has resulted in extensive downstream pollution. Alternatively, some ash is sent to landfills or used in concrete block or asphalt production.
The combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, in power plants releases harmful pollutants, including ash and soot, into the atmosphere. These emissions negatively impact the health of nearby communities and those living hundreds of miles downwind. The pollutants include direct emissions like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hazardous substances that can cause cancer. Particle pollution, which includes ash and soot, forms directly or indirectly through the conversion of sulfur and nitrogen dioxide emissions into particles in the air.
To mitigate ash and soot pollution, it is crucial to transition to clean and renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and tidal power. These zero-emission sources can significantly reduce health risks and premature deaths associated with air pollution from energy plants. Additionally, policies that promote a nationwide shift towards zero-emission electricity and reduce emissions from fuel production, transportation, and burning are essential steps to address the pollution caused by ash and soot.
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Air pollution from nitrogen oxides
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are a group of harmful gases that contribute to air pollution. The primary pollutant is nitric oxide (NO), which is directly emitted alongside a smaller amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). These two gases are collectively referred to as NOx because they are rapidly inter-converted during the day. NOx emissions contribute to particle pollution and the chemical reactions that produce ozone in the atmosphere.
Nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, gas, or diesel, at high temperatures. Power plants that burn fossil fuels are a significant source of NOx emissions, with about one-quarter of the UK's annual NO2 emissions originating from power stations. The use of coal and oil in electricity generation has been partially replaced by natural gas, a cleaner fuel that has helped reduce NOx emissions. However, the slow decline in NOx emissions in the UK is offset by the increasing number of road vehicles, which are a major source of NOx.
Nitrogen dioxide, a component of NOx, has harmful effects on lung health. Scientific studies suggest that exposure to elevated levels of NO2 increases the likelihood of emergency department and hospital admissions and may cause asthma in children. The federal Clean Air Act in the United States has helped drive down nitrogen dioxide emissions by setting more protective standards nationwide. This has led to cleaner power plants, industrial sites, and on-road vehicles, resulting in improved air quality across the nation.
To address the issue of NOx emissions, transitioning to zero-emission sources of electricity, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and tidal power, is crucial. These sources can significantly reduce health risks and premature deaths associated with air pollution. Additionally, policies that reduce emissions from the production, transportation, and burning of fuels used in power generation can help mitigate the environmental and health impacts of NOx and other air pollutants.
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Water pollution from coal mining
Coal mining has a significant impact on water pollution, with coal plants and mines affecting rivers, lakes, streams, and drinking water supplies. The process of coal mining, including extraction, burning, and waste storage, can result in the release of harmful pollutants, posing risks to both the environment and human health.
One of the primary concerns regarding water pollution from coal mining is acid mine drainage (AMD). AMD occurs when certain substances, typically iron sulfide (fools' gold) or pyrite, are exposed to air and water, resulting in the outflow of highly acidic water from coal mines. This acidic water can contaminate nearby water sources, changing the pH levels of streams to the acidity of vinegar. AMD is known to increase the concentration of acidity, iron, manganese, aluminium, and sulfate in receiving streams and rivers, degrading their quality and harming aquatic life.
Coal sludge, or slurry, is another source of water pollution. It is the liquid coal waste generated during the washing of coal and often contains toxins and heavy metals. Coal sludge is typically disposed of near coal mines, but leaks or spills can contaminate both underground and surface waters, including rivers and lakes.
The storage of coal ash, a toxic byproduct of burning coal, also contributes to water pollution. Coal ash is often stored in unlined ponds or mixed with water and stored in coal ash ponds. Over time, heavy metals and toxins in the ash can escape, contaminating nearby waterways and drinking water sources. Coal ash has been linked to heightened risks of cancer, heart damage, reproductive issues, neurological disorders, and other serious health conditions.
Additionally, coal-fired power plants discharge toxic water pollution, including heavy metals such as selenium, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, thallium, and lead. These pollutants poison waterways, fish, and drinking water supplies, with potential birth defects, cancer risks, and even death associated with exposure.
The environmental and health impacts of water pollution from coal mining are significant, and it is crucial to address and mitigate these issues to protect ecosystems and human communities.
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Greenhouse gases
The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. Fossil fuels consist mainly of carbon and hydrogen. When fossil fuels are burned, oxygen combines with carbon to form CO2 and with hydrogen to form H2O. These reactions release heat, which is then used for energy. The amount of CO2 produced depends on the carbon content of the fuel, and the amount of heat produced depends on the carbon and hydrogen content.
In 2022, fossil fuel combustion was the source of about 74% of total US anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas accounted for 50% and coal for 49% of electric power sector CO2 emissions. Power plants that burn coal, oil, and gas are the largest source of carbon pollution. Plants that burn oil and gas also emit methane, another potent greenhouse gas. These emissions contribute to warmer temperatures that drive changes that threaten health.
The transportation sector accounted for the largest share of US energy end-use CO2 emissions in 2023. Even when electricity is generated by renewable sources, emissions are still produced by the transportation of fuels to power plants. The majority of coal is shipped by rail, and diesel locomotives are a source of pollution emissions. Oil and gas are shipped by rail or by pipelines and can also leak from pipelines and storage facilities.
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Frequently asked questions
Energy plants that burn fossil fuels like coal, gas, oil, and biomass produce air pollutants that are harmful to human health and ecosystems. These include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and mercury, as well as hazardous pollutants that can cause cancer.
Ash is a solid residue from burning solid fuels like coal. Coal ash is often stored near power plants or placed in landfills, and it can leach into the ground, contaminating groundwater. Coal ash impoundment ruptures can also cause pollution downstream.
Mountaintop removal and valley-fill mining for coal change the landscape and harm aquatic wildlife downstream. The water draining from these filled valleys may contain pollutants.
Power plants that burn coal, oil, and gas are the largest source of carbon pollution, which is the biggest driver of climate change. They also emit methane, another potent greenhouse gas.
