Global Warming

Coal is the largest source of global warming pollution in the United States. When mined, it releases methane into the air; when burned for energy, carbon dioxide. The United States has around 600 dirty coal-fired power plants currently operating and more than 150 proposed coal plants in some stage of planning or development. Coal-fired power plants are responsible for more than 30 percent of all carbon dioxide pollution in the United States. Proposals to make gasoline and diesel fuels from coal would result in nearly twice the amount of carbon dioxide pollution as traditional petroleum-based fuel. Building more dirty coal plants would dramatically increase carbon dioxide emissions, worsening global warming. The impacts of global warming are severe, ranging from rising sea levels to species extinction. Many impacts such as stronger hurricanes, more severe drought and more intense heat waves are already being felt today.