They are burned in power plants to provide energy required to power the energy plants. However, due to concerns about the negative impact of these fuels on the environment, there is a recent shift towards using cleaner and renewable energy sources for the following reasons:

• Fossil fuels are DIRTY.  When burnt they release pollutants like CO2 that contribute to global warming and SO2 that contributes to acid rain.

• Fossil fuels are NON-RENEWABLE.  The fossil fuels we are using now took over 300 million years to form (according to scientists). When we use up what we have now, we cannot replace then within our or the next several generations life time. 

Some technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) have been suggested to make the burning of fossil fuels (particularly coal) cleaner.

Also, several alternative energy sources (which are renewable and/or reduce or eliminate GHGs generation) are being researched constantly. Some of these alternative energy sources:

• Solar Energy – energy from the Sun;

• Wind Energy – energy due to wind motion;

• Hydrogen Energy;

• Hydroelectric power, and

• Geothermal energy

Nuclear power and Clean Coal Technologies are other alternative energy sources. Full list of the energy sources are contained in the left panel of this page. 

Other Resources:

EIA Energy Kids - Nonrenewable

The Energy Story: Fossil Fuels - Coal, Oil and Natural Gas

U.S. Department of Energy - Fossil Fuels

Energy Resources: Fossil Fuels