Advantages and Disadvantages

Natural Gas

As the world's population increases and there is continued comparison to the current western European, Japanese, and North American living standards, there is likely to be demand for more electrical power. Energy sources available in the world include coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, gas, wind, solar, refuse-based, and biomass. In addition, fusion had been originally proposed as the long-term source.

Every form of energy generation has advantages and disadvantages as shown in the soeeches that follow:

Coal
Advantages
Inexpensive
Easy to recover (in U.S. and Russia)

Disadvantages
Requires expensive air pollution controls (e.g. mercury, sulfur dioxide)
Significant contributor to acid rain and global warming
Requires extensive transportation system

Nuclear
Advantages
Fuel is inexpensive
Energy generation is the most concentrated source
Waste is more compact than any source
Extensive scientific basis for the cycle
Easy to transport as new fuel
No greenhouse or acid rain effects

Disadvantages
Requires larger capital cost because of emergency, containment, radioactive waste and storage systems
Requires resolution of the long-term high level waste storage issue in most countries
Potential nuclear proliferation issue

Hydroelectric
Advantages
Very inexpensive once dam is built
Government has invested heavily in building dams, particularly in the Western U.S.

Disadvantages
Very limited source since depends on water elevation
Many dams available are currently exist (not much of a future source[depends on country])
Dam collapse usually leads to loss of life
Dams have affected fish (e.g. salmon runs)
Environmental damage for areas flooded (backed up) and downstream

Gas / Oil
Advantages
Good distribution system for current use levels
Easy to obtain (sometimes)
Better as space heating energy source

Disadvantages
Very limited availability as shown by shortages during winters several years ago
Could be major contributor to global warming
Very expensive for energy generation
Large price swings with supply and demand
Liquified Natural Gas storage facilities and gas transmission systems have met opposition from environmentalists.