Watch the video above before answering the questions below:

1. List the main fuel types used to generate energy.
2. How is electricity delivered from the source of generation to where you use it?
3. According to the pie chart shown on global energy production, what are the three largest sources of energy?
4. Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?
5. Most methods of generating power involve creating steam. T/F
6. What types of fuels are typically used for generating steam?
7. What is the main problem with using fossil fuels in power generation?
8. What portion of the world’s greenhouse gas production is caused by electricity generation?
9. Identify three ways steam can be generated without the use of fossil fuels.
10. Steam turbines can generate electricity. Identify two ways that turbines can generate electricity without the use of steam.
11. Which renewable source of energy is the fastest-growing source of energy?
12. Can wind and solar power be generated on demand like traditional sources of power?
13. Explain your previous answer.

Use the resources below to answer the following questions:

• 20.3 Fossil Fuels – Physical Geology – 2nd Edition (opentextbc.ca)
• 16 Energy and Mineral Resources – An Introduction to Geology (opengeology.org)
• Module 3: Oil, Coal & Natural Gas | Drilling, Fracking & Reserves | EARTH 104: Earth and the Environment (Development) (psu.edu)

14. What is fossil fuel?
15. List the three main types of fossil fuels.
16. Fossil fuels are renewable resources of energy. T/F
17. Explain the previous statement.
18. What does carbon in fossil fuels converted to when these fuels are burned for energy production?
19. How does the burning of fossil fuels impact climate change?

Use the resources below to answer the following questions:

• Petroleum & Other Liquids – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

20. How does oil form?
21. In which of the following rock types is oil typically found?
22. In which of the following geological formations is oil typically trapped?
23. Rock formations require high porosity and permeability for oil to be extracted. T/F
24. How is the crude oil commonly extracted from the ground?
25. What does an oil refinery do?
26. List four products commonly produced from crude oil?
27. How is oil (or oil products) turned into energy?
28. One of the following sectors is the biggest user of oil products: Transportation, manufacturing, agriculture
29. The US is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of oil. T/F

Navigate to U.S. Energy Atlas (eia.gov) and click on the “Layer List” button on the top-right.  Click on the “Eye Icon” to turn on the Power Plants layer and turn off all other layers. Now click on the Triangle Dropdown option to see different types of Power Plants in the US. Select “Power Plants – Petroleum”

30. Where are most petroleum power plants present in the continental US?
31. How many petroleum power plants are in South Carolina?
32. How many MW do these plants typically produce in SC?

Use the resources below to answer the following questions:

• Natural Gas – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

33. How does natural gas form?
34. How is the formation of natural gas different from oil formation?
35. What is the primary component of natural gas?
36. How is conventional natural gas extracted?
37. What is unconventional natural gas?
38. Which rock formation contains the most unconventional form of natural gas?
39. How is unconventional natural gas extracted?
40. What are the environmental effects of fracking?
41. What are the environmental and economic advantages of using natural gas compared to other fossil fuels?

Navigate to U.S. Energy Atlas (eia.gov) and click on the “Layer List” button on the top-right.  Click on the “Eye Icon” to turn on the Power Plants layer and turn off all other layers. Now click on the Triangle Dropdown option to see different types of Power Plants in the US. Select “Power Plants – Natural Gas”

42. Where are more natural gas power plants present in the continental US?
43. How many natural gas power plants are in South Carolina?
44. How many MW do the largest natural gas plants produce in SC?

Use the resources below to answer the following questions:

• Coal – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

45. What is the process for the formation of coal on Earth?
46.  Coal found in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Illinois formed this many years ago.
47. How is coal extracted?
48. Since coal forms under the same process that causes sedimentary rocks to form, it is also a sedimentary rock. T/F
49. Order the following forms of coal from low carbon content to high carbon content.
50. 90% of US coal is of the following two types of coal.
51. Burning lower carbon content coal creates more ash as a waste product. T/F
52. Coal is the dirtiest of all fossil fuels. T/F
53. Explain the previous answer.
54. The US has the largest reserves of coal. T/F
55. Consumption of coal for energy production has increased in the US. T/F
56. Explain the previous answer.
57. Describe two environmental impacts of using coal for energy.

Navigate to U.S. Energy Atlas (eia.gov) and click on the “Layer List” button on the top-right.  Click on the “Eye Icon” to turn on the Power Plants layer and turn off all other layers. Now click on the Triangle Dropdown option to see different types of Power Plants in the US.  Select “Power Plants – Coal”

58. Where are more coal power plants present in the continental US?
59. How many coal power plants are in South Carolina?
60. Which coal power plant in SC produces the most MW?