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What Are The Four Primary Energy Sources In The United States?

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The primary energy sources are petroleum, coal, natural gas, nuclear fuel, and renewable energy. These primary fuels are used to make secondary sources of energy, such as electricity. The top three primary energy sources consumed in the United States are petroleum, natural gas, and coal. The primary energy sources are divided into two categories – renewable and nonrenewable. The top four primary energy sources in the United States are nonrenewable. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, and uranium are Nonrenewable resources that cannot be replenished in a short time period since they are extracted from the ground. The primary energy use source fossil fuels include, coal, oil, and natural gas fall into this category. Fossil fuels have high percentages …show more content…

Petroleum energy is used to make this gas, which is only part of what this amazing energy is capable of doing. Petroleum energy is found deep within the earth in various rock formations. The liquid is extremely flammable and is a mixture of many different natural compounds, the main compound being hydrocarbons. At present, it is estimated that as much as 70% of the world’s energy consumption comes from crude oil and natural gas. Because petroleum is a non-renewable energy and because it is one of the most popular natural energies on earth, there are many concerns over how much petroleum is remaining in the earth. Although there is almost no part of daily life that is not affected by petroleum energy, its biggest use is in fuel …show more content…

Like all fossil fuels, its combustion emits carbon dioxide, but at about half the rate of coal. Global consumption of natural gas in 2006 was 104 trillion cubic feet. Known world reserves of conventional natural gas total about 6,000 trillion cubic feet with perhaps another one-tenth of that amount still undiscovered. At that rate, known reserves will be adequate for nearly 60 years. Natural gas shales, a potentially enormous unconventional source of this fossil fuel, could dramatically change this picture. We now have technology that takes the waste heat from a natural gas turbine and uses it to power a steam turbine, resulting in a power plant that is as much as 60%

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Converting the majority of our energy use from coal and oil would benefit America and other countries immensely. Natural gas burns 80% cleaner than the two aforementioned, is easily transported and utilized, and is found abundantly all over the world making it a serious contender in a society seeking out alternative energy sources. A new generation of thinking has emerged crafting the green revolution, a movement to create sustainable energy use while exploring other options. Natural gas, while not nonrenewable, is abundantly found in the United States, creates less pollution when burned, and can be used to segue from primarily coal and oil to primary use of renewable energies. Natural Gas is a great way to make sure the air you breathe

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