Set 3B — Fossil fuels / energy / renewables / trade-offs

Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are oil, coal, and natural gas formed from ancient organic matter. They are nonrenewable because they take millions of years to form.

Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are compounds made of hydrogen and carbon that make up fossil fuels.

Fossil fuel rock clue

Fossil fuels are commonly found in shale, a sedimentary rock.

Oil clue

Oil is mainly tied to transportation fuels like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. If the clue is vehicles and planes, think oil.

Coal clue

Coal is tied to electricity and industry and has been decreasing in production in the United States and EU-27.

Coal trap

The primary use for coal in this class is not steel production, so that statement is false.

Natural gas clue

Natural gas is mostly methane and has increased in the U.S. because of fracking and better technology.

Fracking

Fracking is hydraulic fracturing used to extract natural gas from shale and similar formations.

Fracking growth clue

Natural gas production in the U.S. increased because of fracking, improved drilling technology, and telemetry. If all three are listed, “all of the above” is right.

Fracking beneficiary

If the question asks which industry benefited from fracking, think natural gas.

Direct fossil fuel use

Direct use means burning fossil fuels directly for energy, like transportation, heating, or cooking.

Indirect fossil fuel use

Indirect use means fossil fuels used as raw materials in products like plastics, fertilizer, concrete, and clothing.

U.S. electricity sector clue

Natural gas dominates the electricity sector in the United States in the lecture material.

Renewable vs nonrenewable

Renewable energy replenishes naturally, while nonrenewable energy does not.

Renewable examples

Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass are renewable.

Nuclear power

Nuclear is low carbon but not renewable because uranium is nonrenewable. Do not confuse clean with renewable.

Clean vs green energy

Clean energy means lower emissions, while green energy is the renewable subset with the greatest environmental benefit.

Hydroelectric power

Energy made from moving water that spins turbines to generate electricity. It is renewable.

Hydro clue

Hydroelectric is the number one renewable energy source in the United States in this class material.

Wind clue

Wind energy uses turbines that can be installed onshore and offshore.

Carbon footprint

A carbon footprint is the greenhouse gas impact of a person, company, or country.

How to lower carbon footprint

Use less energy, use public transportation, waste less, eat less meat, and support greener energy.

Energy trade-offs

Energy questions compare emissions, renewability, reliability, and risk. No major energy source is perfect, so think pros and cons.

China energy clue

China is a leader in both coal production and renewable energy.

U.S. emissions clue

In the class material, emissions have been going down in the United States.