Coal Mining
Mining coal and oil allows methane to escape. Methane is naturally in the ground. When coal or oil is mined you have to dig up the earth a little. When you dig up the fossil fuels you dig up the methane as well, so then the methane escapes. Some mines release upwards of 5,000,000 cubic feet of methane in a 24 hour period or more.
Underground coal mines also use massive amounts of electricity to extract coal, which in turn produces carbon dioxide. A typical continuous mining machine will use 250 kilowatts per hours. A typical household uses 1000 kWh of electricity per month. This means that in only 4 hours a continuous miner will consume as much power as a typical US household does in one month.
Underground coal mines also use massive amounts of electricity to extract coal, which in turn produces carbon dioxide. A typical continuous mining machine will use 250 kilowatts per hours. A typical household uses 1000 kWh of electricity per month. This means that in only 4 hours a continuous miner will consume as much power as a typical US household does in one month.