Chapter 3
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way requires largemachines to rip away the
top of the earth’s surface. Then the coal is
scooped out, leaving the land scarred. New
laws call for coal companies to
reclaim
the
land. Thismeans that theymust restore the
land’s surface to its natural shape.
Coal mines can lead to other environ-
mental problems. One mine in the hard
coal region of the community of Centralia
has had a fire burning in it since 1962. No
one can figure out how to put it out!When
water flows through coal mines no longer
inuse, it creates a special kindof acidwater.
That acid water flows into our fresh water
supply. Lawmakers are trying to see that
this does not happen.
Pennsylvania is a leading producer of
electricity in our country. We produce
enough electricity to meet our state’s
demand. We also have an extra supply of
electricity to export, or send to, other states.
Our factories make electricity using fossil
fuels, using the force of water at
hydroelectricdams, andusingnuclear fuels.
Nuclear energy
produces tremendous
heat. That heat is used to produce
electricity. We have six nuclear power
plants in our state.
We have read how burning fossil fuels
can put harmful chemicals into the air.
Nuclear energy presents our state with
different concerns. When used properly,
nuclear energy is safe. However, in 1979,
the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant
at Middletown (near Harrisburg) had an
accident. Somedangerous radioactive steam
was released into the air. The plant’s safety
systemworked and stopped any injury. But
the accident did raise much concern about
Shoppingmalls and other places have replaced farms
inmany areas as our cities and suburbs continue to grow.
