-Non-renewable resources that the United States uses is mainly coal, petroleum and natural gas. Carbon is the main element in all the fossil fuels.
-Coal is the main energy source we use the most often, we mine coal out of the ground so we can burn it for energy use. There are two ways to mine coal: underground mining and surface mining. Pros for coal: reliable source of energy, we can rely on coal for energy during the summer, winter, night or day to provide energy. Cons: It's the most harmful for environment, mining for coal is a very dangerous job which takes many lives each year. Coal is the best future usable non-renewable resource left since there's about 150 years left of coal.
-Petroleum is a liquid fossil fuel which is also called crude oil or oil. Petroleum is trapped in underground rock formations which has to be drilled into to get out. Some oil deposits are on land and others are in the ocean! Oil is used for a variety of things such as: converting into gasoline, used in liquid products such as nail polish, rubbing alcohol and solid products such as crayons, water pipes, shoes and other items. Pros for petroleum: Drilling for oil is inexpensive, reliable and dependable source of energy, provides many conveniences. Cons: Burning petroleum is harmful for the environment, possible oil spills.
-Natural gas is another non renewable energy resource. It's trapped underground in reservoirs and is mostly made up of methane. There is so much natural gas that it is measured in million, billion or trillion cubic meters. To reach natural gas out of the ground, companies drill down in the ground. We use natural gas for cooking and heating, which also can be burned to generate electricity. Pros: Natural gas is relatively inexpensive to extract and is a much cleaner fossil fuel that coal and oil.
Cons:Extracting natural gas can cause environmental problems, fracturing rocks can cause mini earthquakes.
Future-Natural gas is a very inexpensive and clean fossil fuel. Natural gas is a key for the future since oil will eventually run out in the next 50 or so years. Natural gas will be the main fossil fuel driving the world in the future.
Sources
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/non-renewable-energy/
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/?page=nonrenewable_home
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/non-renewable-energy/
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/?page=nonrenewable_home