Pros & Cons of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels include any fuel that is created beneath the earth's surface from ancient plants and animals. Fossil fuels are non-renewable fuel resources extracted from the ground for use in powering electricity for homes and business as well as fuels for vehicles. The three main types of fossil fuels include coal, oil and natural gas. Pros and cons of fossil fuels revolve around concerns for how use affects the environment, supply, acquisition and cost.

History

Fossil fuels form deep in the earth over extended periods of time. As ancient plants and animals die, the organic matter in these once-living organisms breaks down and becomes buried beneath layers of earth. The heat and pressure generated by many layers of sediment causes the formation of fossil fuels.

Oil and gas deposits form in areas where ancient marine organisms form layers of organic sediments that break down into fossils fuels. Coal forms on land from decomposing plant material. Coal is often found in swampy areas with high moisture that prevents the decomposition of ancient plant materials.

Environmental Impact

Addressing the pros and cons of fossil fuels logically begins with looking at environmental impacts. The cons far outweigh the pros when evaluating the impact of the use of fossil fuels. The main advantage lies in the industry's ability to moderately control pollution caused by using fossil fuels by using clean-burning coal technology.

The disadvantages of using fossils fuel lies in the direct impact to the environment. This begins with the irreparable damage to habitats and marine environments caused during drilling or coal extraction. Fossil fuels emit hazardous gases that can cause any number of breathing ailments in living beings. Fossil fuel consumption generates greenhouse gases, causes acid rain and, on occasion, results in direct pollution through oil spills.

Supply

Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources, which means the supply is very limited. There really aren't any pros for using fuels that cannot be replaced. However, large deposits of oil, natural gas and coal are available. The biggest pro revolves around our measured use of these limited resources and our existing ability, without our infrastructure, to actually use fossil fuels.

Cons include both the limited supplies of fossil fuels and the fact that no fossil fuel can be recycled. Only one-third of coal's fuel energy potential is currently used when coal is burned for power, according to the Department of Energy. This waste cannot be regained. However, there is a choice to explore more efficient use of coal so we're completely tapping its capabilities.

Acquisition

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, fossil fuel use accounts for 85 percent of total energy use. To continue at our current rate of consumption, suppliers must tap existing and new reserves of fossil fuels. Excavating and oil drilling are expensive endeavors requiring long-term planning and research. The biggest disadvantage lies in the fact fossil fuels are only housed deep within the earth's surface, making acquisition a difficult task.

The pros of acquiring fossils fuels begin with the benefit of increased income for a country's economy. The sale of fossil fuels involves much more than simply providing a finished fuel product to a buyer. A long list of businesses exists along the supply chain that ranges from the oil well workers to the captains aboard the super tankers. Another pro is that it is really is easy to transport fossil fuels in liquid, gas or solid form.

Cost

The cheap cost of fossil fuels tops the list of pros regarding cost. In addition, technology currently exists to use fossil fuels, which makes their use immediate. The cost of obtaining and using fossil fuels may become an issue in the future as governments require stricter air quality controls and demand that the fuel industry develop ways to better use fossil fuels.

Cons include the cost of advancing technology to use fossil fuels more efficiently as well as reduce the acquisition impact on the environment. Both require extensive research to develop new techniques for extraction of fossil fuels.