TYPES of "POWER PLANTS"

Power plants look like factories, but instead of manufacturing material goods (like cars or toasters or light bulbs) they produce energy in the form of current electricity, which they sell to their customers.

TYPES of POWER PLANTS in the US:

1,793 fossil fuel plants burn natural gas, generating 34% of our electricity

400 fossil fuel plants burn coal, generating 30% of our electricity

61 nuclear plants use fission reactions, generating 20% of our electricity

1,444 hydro plants use water power, generating 7% of our electricity

999 wind power plants use steady winds, generating 6% of our electricity

1,721 solar plants use sunlight, generating 1% of our electricity

All six of these interconnected types of electrical power plants are collectively referred to as the "power grid". The US power grid is the single most complex technological system ever created by humans. When you plug in and turn on your toaster or iron or light bulb, there is no way way of knowing which type of power plant your electricity is coming from.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS and GLOBAL WARMING

Of the 6 types of power plants listed, only those that burn fossil fuels (primarily gas and coal) emit carbon dioxide (CO2) which is the chief "greenhouse gas" responsible for global warming. It is important to note that these two types of fossil fuel burning power plants still produce the majority of our electricity (64%).

"CARBON FREE" ELECTRICITY

Nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar power plants do not burn fossil fuels and therefore do not produce carbon dioxide. These electrical generation technologies are one solution for reducing CO2 emissions and minimizing the effects of global warming.

Electric cars, buses, and trucks (EVs) derive their electricity from the power grid which creates almost 2/3 (64%) of our electricity from burning fossil fuels. This is why EVs will not provide "carbon (CO2) free" transportation until we finally do away with fossil fuel plants!