▶ reading passage: Coal is the most plentiful and easily accessible form of fossil fuel on the planet. It has been an important source of energy for hundreds of years, and it will continue to be used in the future because of its merits.
Perhaps the most important benefit of coal is that it is easy to mine. It is commonly located close to the earth's surface, so miners do not need to dig tunnels to reach a deposit-instead, they simply remove the layers of soil and rock that covers the coal. This method of extraction, known as strip mining, enables a mining company to save both time and effort because it allows for up to 90 percent of coal in a deposit to be extracted without the need for specialized equipment to burrow deep into the earth.
Another reason to continue using coal is that it is cheap to transport. Other types of fuels, such as oil, natural gas, and hydrogen, are transported by means of dangerous, high=pressure pipelines. Therefore, the constant danger of explosions or leaks is existent, and it means that a lot of money must be spent on safety measures to reduce the risk of accidents. However, coal is commonly shipped in its solid form, with little chance of a mishap. Thus, the cost of ensuring the safe transportation of coal is very low when compared to other fuels.
Lastly, the coal industry is a major employer that creates more jobs for workers. Mining operations in the US employ thousands of workers in the extraction and processing of coal, as well as related jobs such as the maintenance of coal facilities. Given that the country's energy requirements will continue to increase, the coal industry will expand and hire even more workers in the future. |