Abstract
Fossil fuels currently provide more than 85 percent of all energy consumed worldwide. And, nearly two-thirds of electricity and virtually all transportation fuels used in the United States are derived from fossil fuels (Environmental Information Administration 2007, U.S. Department of Energy 2007a). Conventional power generation from fossil fuels has a host of well documented environmental impacts, the most notable being emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2 ). Many climate-change models predict that increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations could pressure flora and fauna to adapt to changing environmental conditions (Inkley et al. 2004). With rising costs and long-term environmental impacts from use of fossil fuels, the world increasingly is looking for alternatives to supply electricity and fuel for transportation (McLeish 2002, Bernstein et al. 2006, Kunz et al. 2007). Alternatives frequently considered are nuclear, coal with CO2 sequestration (i.e., capture and storage of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that otherwise would be emitted into the atmosphere), conservation and renewable energy.