Praise for the previous edition:
"...[a] terrifically informative volume...a perfect resource for someone struggling to wrap their brain around some of the most complex energy issues of our time."—Booklist
Coal and oil are two of the world's most important sources of primary energy. A multitrillion-dollar infrastructure has been created to locate, produce, transport, process, and burn coal and oil. This infrastructure has made modern life possible. In some of the world's largest economies, coal-fired power plants generate at least half of all electricity, and in almost all nations, transportation is synonymous with oil consumption.
Coal and Oil, Second Edition describes the history of these sources of energy. Complete with a timeline and a list of definitions, this updated eBook discusses in detail the technology of coal and oil—that is, the mining of coal and the drilling for oil as well as the processing of coal and the refining of oil—as well as the methods by which these primary energy sources are converted into usable working energy. Special attention is given to the environmental effects, both local and global, associated with their use and the relationships that have developed between governments and these most important industries. This comprehensive resource also focuses on global dependence on these resources.