Oil Crude oil is a nonrenewable fossil fuel.

It is formed when heat and pressure compressed the remains of prehistoric plants, animals, and aquatic life under the bed of the sea or lakes for millions of years, thus becoming fossil fuel. Oil is drilled and pumped from giant underground pockets, or oil wells, and processed through a system called distillation.

Coal Coal is a nonrenewable fossil fuel produced worldwide. It is formed when millions of years of pressure and heat turn the remains of prehistoric forests and swamps into coal. Coal is taken out of the earth either by deep mining (tunneling underground) or strip mining (digging out layers of earth). It exists in different grades or qualities. Coal is used predominantly to produce electricity and to provide fuel for industries that require large amounts of heat. Production of steel, cement, and paper all rely on this industry. Coal traditionally has been used for heating many homes and businesses.

Nuclear The Shippingport Atomic Energy Plant, the first commercial nuclear power generating facility in the United States, operated successfully for twenty-five years. Energy generated in a nuclear power plant is created when an atom of uranium is split and causes a chain reaction producing heat. This heat converts water to steam, which turns a turbine generating electricity. The water driving the turbine is cycled within an enclosed circuit, preventing any exhaust contaminated with radiation from escaping the system.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is derived from heat within the earth. Energy is found deep in the earth in the form of steam, naturally heated water, and rocks that touch magma deep in the earths crust. On a small, low temperature scale, piping is run through shallow trenches in the ground and water is circulated by a pump. This process cools a building during the summer and warms it during the winter. This form of energy has no harmful emissions and is one of the most efficient systems available.

Hydropower

Hydropower is energy created from moving water. Dammed water passes through a turbine that rotates a generator to create electrical power. This form of energy is relatively inexpensive and has various ranges of environmental impact depending on the facility size.

Solar energy

Solar energy is a renewable resource. It is derived from the sun's rays. Solar energy is converted directly to electricity through solar photovoltaic panels. Solar rays, collected off reflective surfaces, heat an object in a process that creates solar thermal energy. Solar power has grown in popularity since the oil crisis of the 1970's and consumers continue to rely on solar panels for various purposes

Wind Wind is a renewable resource. Energy can be created from the movement of the wind. Wind is created over the earth's surface due to uneven heating patterns of the atmosphere. When the wind is caught in mill propellers, the propeller shaft is forced to rotate and turn a generator creating electricity. Wind power has also been used for more than 1,100 years to do simple tasks such as pumping water and grinding grain. This source of energy is emission free and constantly available with continuous wind flow.

Wood Wood is a renewable resource. It has always been a traditional source of fuel. Considered a biofuel, timber is burned directly or converted into products such as wood ethanol or wood pellets. The Pennsylvania State University School of Forests Resources states that 468 million tons of small diameter trees with original low use across the state can be harvested and used as an energy source. Researchers speculate that this unused timber could produce 480 to 600 million gallons of wood ethanol or produce twelve billion pounds of wood pellets, enough to heat 3 million homes

Thermal Power :
Coal and diesel are used for the generation of thermal power in India. In fact, coal is the major source of energy used for the production of electricity in those areas that either have no nearby water power sites or are located near coal mines. In states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, coal is the major source of power. Further, some industrial cities like Kanpur and Ahmedabad are served totally with the electricity generated by coal. Moreover, diesel engines for generating electrical power have been installed basically at small towns of the country. Installed capacity of such power plants is only a few hundred kilowatts.