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 As Stated by the Institute for Energy Research, “Fossil fuels make modern life possible. These huge sources of energy work to generate steam, electricity and power transportation system. They make the manufacture of tens of thousands of commercial goods possible. And although fossil fuels have become synonymous with modern industrial society, their potential to solve some of the challenges of everyday existence has been understood throughout history.” Growing electricity demand in the U.S. and in the world will require increases in all generation options (renewable, coal, and nuclear) in addition to increased efficiency and conservation in its use. Coal will continue to play a significant role in power generation and as such carbon dioxide management from it will become increasingly important. (MIT, 2007).  Hydrogen and Clean Coal Fuels Program created by the United States Department of Energy have the potential of ”increasing energy security, reducing environmental impact of energy use, promoting economic development, and encouraging scientific discovery and innovation by researching and developing novel technologies that convert the nation’s abundant coal resources into hydrogen and other clean fuels”( [|www.fossil.energy.gov] ). The use of coal, America’s largest domestic fossil energy resource, offers the potential to economically support our ever increasing energy needs. “The use of coal to produce hydrogen for the transportation sector can reduce America’s total energy use and its reliance on imported petroleum while helping to create jobs through the creation of a domestic industry” ( [|www.fossil.energy.gov] ).”  The Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts global consumption of oil to rise about 35% between 2005 and 2030. Over the same time period, natural gas consumption will increase over 50% and coal approximately 65%. Similar to world consumption, the EIA foresees fossil fuels maintaining their status as America’s leading source of energy consumption between now and 2030. <span style="__styledocument: [object]; mso-tab-count: 1;"> Our economic health depends on the continued availability of reliable and affordable fossil fuels.<span style="__styledocument: [object]; mso-spacerun: yes;"> Innovative technologies can make the future production and use of fossil fuels more efficient and environmentally cleaner. We cannot as a nation stop using an energy source which currently supplies 85% of our energy needs. ([|www.energy.gov]). <span style="__styledocument: [object];"> There has been a call to switch to renewable energy sources like sunlight, wind, and biomass to combat global warming. Alternative energy is not always appropriate to all locations. We have identified key environmental impacts associated with alternative energy technologies and addressed each. One common problem is the large amount of land that they take up and the habitats they interfere with. Wind turbines are an eyesore and damage flying creatures. Solar takes up a great deal of space and is inefficient. Geothermal produces large amounts of toxic waste and is limited in application. Ethanol production uses large amounts of land and fertilizer, as well as fossil fuels. They too produce greenhouse gases. Hydroelectric plants cause huge changes in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In all, each of the alternatives to fossil fuel use have their own list of ills to be compensated for.[]