1. Logan Hermanns
Mr. Curtiss
Journalism and Business Writing
September 6, 2012
August this year marked the time at which the U.S. is at a twenty year low for
C02 emissions due to the decreasing of coal use across the countries.
The cause of this new trend, experts say, is that many large factories and electrical
plants are switching from coal to natural gas, which has become cheaper to use than coal
is. Natural gas releases significantly less carbon into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is
what many know as a greenhouse gas, a gas that traps warm air in the atmosphere,
causing polar ice caps and glaciers to melt. This theory of a warming planet due to the
containment of carbon dioxide is known as, “Global Warming”, the results of which
could threaten the very existence of certain animals and wreak havoc on coastal cities.
Most scientists believe that this disaster can certainly be averted, given these new test
results. In 2005, 50% of the electricity produced in the U.S. was made by coal. A study
done in August of this year shows that that number has certainly decreased to 34%. Even
though natural gas still produces carbon dioxide, it is a healthier choice and a good start
to a cleaner future.
Many large cities and urban populations lie on the coast, and the global economy
would collapse if sea levels were to rise as predicted. The cost of imported goods would
skyrocket, including petroleum products. The Tok population would certainly be affected
as the tourists would stop passing through, due to dramatic increases in gasoline and

2. diesel prices. Because most high school students in the area have tourism related summer
work, their jobs would certainly be in danger. Even if one has a job not connected to the
seasonal sightseers, they still would be affected due to the reliance the local economy has
on the tourism industry. A huge depression would hit the U.S. and billions across the
world would be affected.
“Energy in America.” Associated PressAugust 17, 2012