ENERGYUNIT 2 - NATURAL RESOURCES

“In 1980, on average, there

were 3 electrical appliances

in the home. Today there

are 25”

FACT – The world needs ENERGY (lots of it) to:

Extract and refine natural resources

Manufacture goods (industry)

Transport resources, goods, and people

Heat/cool our homes

Power our technology

We get approximately

75% of that energy

though the burning of:

FOSSIL FUELS

FOSSIL FUELS

• Formed over millions of years from the decomposition of plant and animal

material. Found underground. Highly combustible (easy to burn) as a

fuel, can also be used to generate electricity.

• Is a “non-renewable” resource. Cannot be re-used or regrown quickly.

• Is full of carbon – when burned it releases a lot of carbon dioxide – a

key greenhouse gas. Comes in three forms:

COAL

WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT FOSSIL FUELS?

• Canada has lots – we can satisfy our own energy needs and export to

other countries like the USA. It is good for trade and creates jobs.

•Most of our current infrastructure is designed around fossil fuel

consumption (cars, trucks, planes, appliances – even the layout of our

cities is based on our access to cheap fuel).

• They are relatively cheap in the short term.

THE PROBLEM WITH FOSSIL FUELS

• Carbon emissions from their use is one of the main reasons for the

enhancement of the Greenhouse Effect (see unit 1) = climate change.

• They create significant air pollution (particularly coal), smog, breathing issues.

•Mining and refining usually has a significant negative impact on plants,

animals, air, and especially water (ex. Oil sands / Tailings / Fracking).

• They are not a renewable resource – we can run out.

• They are dangerous to transport – oil spills from trucks and tankers, pipeline

leaks, explosions – ecological and human tragedies difficult to clean up.

EX – the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

NATURAL GAS - FRACKING

• Is a process that can release natural gas that is often trapped in

small fissures in a shale rock formation. It is a relatively new

technology made possible by the high demand for natural gas.

•We have lots of deposits, so it can benefit Canada and USA and

reduce the need to import fuel.

• A solution of water, sand, and chemicals is pumped into the well to

fracture the rocks and open up the fissures so the oil and gas can

flow into the pipe.

• Uses a large amount of water and there are concerns with

groundwater contamination and wastewater disposal if not done

properly.

• Also – evidence points to fracking causing earthquakes and

“flammable water”

OIL SANDS

•Oil-like substance called bitumen is found around individual sand

particles.

• Easily dug out of ground via surface and strip mining but the

process of separating bitumen from sand and then refining the

bitumen is expensive, energy intensive, and environmentally

harmful (emissions, water contamination, destruction of land and

habitat – see video

PIPELINES

• Pipelines are the safest and most efficient way to carry oil products to refineries

and customers. Truck and rail have a higher chance of accident.

• Building pipelines expands our ability to export oil, expand production of oil,

create jobs, and bring in more tax revenue.

• Many oppose pipelines for these same reasons. Also, that some pipelines travel

through eco-sensitive areas or lands controlled by First Nations.

• Keystone XL, Dakota Access, Kinder Morgan Transmountain pipelines have all

featured massive protests – but all have currently been approved by Canada

and USA governments.

Case Against -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkwoRivP17A&t=34s

CBC - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5XGcaR1tZg

SunCor -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST06yUMQL7o

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

• There are many technologies that already exist that are renewable

and that have much less of an environmental impact. Most of them

are carbon emission free which is important for combatting climate

change. Examples:

• They all have great potential and are becoming more common

and more affordable. Why are we not switching sooner?

• Can be expensive at first - high costs of technology, hard to switch

infrastructure, cut “addiction to fossil fuel”. Still cheaper in short term to

use fossil fuels.

• Not always much political will – leaving fossil fuels in the ground is seen as

a loss of potential income and jobs for Canada and USA.

BUT:

• Lots of savings in long term – No environment = no Earth.

• Lots of economic opportunities in the alternative energies. Jobs of the

future EX Tesla and SpaceX.