Historical Human Population Curve

3 to 6 billion in the last 40 years

U.S. Entire world = 8000

4.6% of population

Peak Oil

• Geologist for Shell Oil• Predicted the peak of oil

production in the US (between 1969 - 1971)

• Predicted a world peak at around the year 2000

C.J. Campbell (March 1998) The end of cheap oil?

2006 Gulfdiscovery

Charles Hall and Cutler Cleveland

Fig. 10.6World’s Oil Reserves Environmental Implications

• Relaxation of pollution controls

Environmental Implications

• Relaxation of pollution controls• Increased drilling on sensitive lands

Environmental Implications

• Relaxation of pollution controls• Increased drilling on sensitive lands

THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN

ALASKA

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

• Consists of 19 Million acres in northeast Alaska.• It is home to 45 species of mammals, 180 species of

birds, and 23 different kinds of fish. Home and calving grounds of the largest caribou herd in the world, totaling 123,000 animals.

• Several species (polar bears, caribou, migratory birds, etc. are protected by international treaties or agreements.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

• 7 billion barrels of oil• 200 day supply• Little to no effect on gas prices

Environmental Implications

• Relaxation of pollution controls• Increased drilling on sensitive lands• Shale oils/Tar sands• Switch from oil to coal

Fig. 10.4

World’s coal reserves

Generation of Electricity in the U.S.

• 56% from coal- 200 + year supply of coal in the US

Overall impact = Extraction degradation + extraction risk+ transportation related degradation + use degradation (air pollution, acid rain, global warming).

Fig. 10.9

Mountain top removal

Valley Fill

groundwater + sulfur bearing rock + oxygen = acidic drainage

Acid Mine Drainage• acidity• dissolved metals at low pH

- Fe, Al, Mn, Mg

4 FeS2 + 15O2 + 14 H2O = 4Fe(OH)3 + 8 H2SO4

Pyrite + Oxygen + Water = “Yellowboy” + Sulfuric Acid

Limestone Ditches

Most aquatic organism cannot tolerate a pH lower than 5.0 or higher than 9.0

Dec 22, 2008

1.1 billion gallons of coal sludge

• Tributaries tothe

Tennessee River

• Carcinogens,heavy metals

What can we do?

Students for Renewable Energy

• Students from a 2003 intro envi. sci. class• WWU: renewable energy?• Energy fee of $10.50/quarter• 84.7% passage• Since 2005: 100% renewable• EPA Green Power Leadership Award• 22nd largest purchaser of green power in nation• 2nd among higher education • http://www.westernsre.org/

• Wind 77%• Biomass 14%• Low Impact Hydro 9%• Solar <1%

• Large Hydro 45%• Coal 35%• Natural Gas 17%• Wind 2 %• Nuclear < 1%• Other < 1%

Green Power Standard Mix

PSE

How Energy is Used (US)

– Residential (20%)– Commercial uses (17%)– Industrial uses (33%)– Transportation (27%)– Export (3%)…some coal

Survey

Table 9.2

What is the most efficient way to get to work?

Transportation Energy Uses

• U.S. policy has kept energy costs low, thus supporting the automobile industry.

• Most other countries (non-OPEC) heavily tax fuel, increasing the appeal of mass transit.

2011 U.S. Motors Economobile LX7 Option Package B (10-year 80,000 mile warranty) Base Price: $37,119.00

Additional charges:Sales tax (5%) 1,856Non-point runoff pollution tax 87Land-use degradation tax 56Urban sprawl tax 124Resource extraction pollution tax 2166Embodied energy pollution tax 961Respiratory illness compensation fund 659Acid rain tax 1,280Subsidized parking offset tax 3,090Global warming tax 934Recycling surcharge 2,227Highway maintenance tax 315National Security tax 782

TOTAL $51,656

Netherlands

$6.73/gallon

$2.61 = gas

$4.12 = tax

(158% tax!)

Mountain top removal, valley fill, yellow boy, and aciddrainage are forms of environmental degradations associated with:

1) Oil drilling2) Coal mining3) Nuclear energy production4) Hydroelectric dam building5) all of the above