Coal Makes A Comeback Despite Natural Gas Abundance

Although America acclaims there is a positive transition towards natural gas, this year’s winter, the coldest in 30 years, has made Americans divert back to coal. This is primarily because the cold winter had made natural gas prices its highest level in four years, and coal's prices were more economically feasible. The sudden increase in cheap coal has led to US carbon emissions that are projected to rise after successfully decreasing emissions in both 2011 and 2012. While we continue to struggle to find ways to balance improving our environment without putting a toll on our economy, we look toward a better future of attaining a renewable resource world.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorensteffy/2014/02/14/coal-makes-a-comeback-despite-natural-gas-abundance/

Germany Plans to Raze Towns for Brown Coal and Cheap Energy

The world is at a serious risk as Germany, who is looked upon as the lead engineer for renewable energy, is relocating villages to create massive strip mines where they can extract Brown Coal for energy. Brown Coal was used as early as 1934 and lasted until the end of the Cold War, and has the lowest grade of coal with the highest carbon dioxide emissions per kilowatt-hour produced. Now, Germany is pushing to have 80% of power as renewable energy by 2050 using subsidies such as solar and wind power, which make up roughly 25% of their electric power today (US is 12%). Experts believe Brown Coal mining is being used now because Germany’s energy revolution pursuit might not be going as planned, and there may be more coal needed to supply the demands. For example, Germany’s nuclear power industry will be shut down by 2022, and this decision was announced in 2002, but not fully agreed on until after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Although natural gas produces lower carbon dioxide emissions, through an economic standpoint, it is not feasible for Germany to use this because Brown Coal is significantly cheaper. However, it is estimated that Brown Coal supplies may run out in 10-15 years. Thus, it is essential for Germany and other countries to research for alternative renewable energy that will no longer harm to environment.

Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/02/140211-germany-plans-to-raze-towns-for-brown-coal/ 

Severe Drought Has U.S. West Fearing Worst

According to Ingram, a professor of earth and planetary sciences at Berkeley, California’s severe drought looks to be the worst drought the region has experienced in over 500 years. It is predicted that about forty-thousand people will run out of water within 60 to 120 days. If conditions continue to stay dry, state officials say they will bring trucks of drinking water to supply communities. These arid conditions have caused parched fields, starving livestock, and smog. While Western America has been known to lack water, officials continue to search for answers to supply water to inhabitants and farm fields, hoping that rain will soon replenish the land.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/us/severe-drought-has-us-west-fearing-worst.html?ref=science