Every year, the federal government subsidizes the use and production of polluting forms of energy. The amount of money involved is significant. These subsidies include tax breaks to the oil and gas industry, special government programs to assist nuclear power utilities, and research programs that encourage coal consumption. In addition, some energy production subsidies are military programs that have a secondary purpose of providing electrical generation.
Energy is a necessity for modern life.
Yet, energy production from fossil fuels and nuclear power is also a big problem for the environment. At every stage of production, transportation and consumption, these dirty energy sources pose risks to the environment. Every year the United States burns more than 900 million tons of coal. This releases more than 51 tons of mercury and nearly 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the air, which contaminates the atmosphere, ponds and forests. Petroleum production and transportation results in the leakage of approximately 280 million barrels of petroleum per year, contaminating water supplies, poisoning wildlife, and ruining landscapes.