Air pollution is most commonly associated with acidic.
precipitation, smog, and the depletion of our ozone layer. .
Acid rain is one of the biggest air quality problems that.
upstate New York deals with, especially the Adirondack.
Mountains. The main cause of acidic rain is the emissions of.
gases like SO2 and NOx These emissions are given off into the.
environment mostly from the burning of fossil fuels, either.
in vehicles or in industrial buildings. The best way that you.
can combat such a problem would be to find alternative.
ways to obtain energy, or by finding alternative fuels that.
can be combusted, yet give off less harmful emissions into.
the environment.
The concept of alternative fuels has been around for.
many years. Since the Clean Air Act was passed, there have.
been numerous efforts to find different fuels that can be.
burnt instead of gasoline, which produces many.
environmentally harmful emissions. These alternative fuels.
include alcohols, electricity, natural gas, and propane. In.
general, these alternative fuels, or "clean fuels,"reduce the.
level of emissions that cause ground-level ozone (which.
leads to smog), and of hydrocarbons, which lead to ozone.
layer depletion.
Vehicles that use electricity as their main power source.
tend to be virtually pollution-free, which makes them one of.
the best alternatives for reducing harmful vehicle.
emissions. Also, the car batteries can recharge at night,.
when you are sleeping and when the power demand isn't as.
high, and it's cheaper. Not only does this effect cars, but.
power plants that use electricity rather than fossil fuel.
combustion have an easier time controlling their emissions. .
On the down side of this "clean fuel," the current supply of.
technology for electricity is limited, which cause higher.
prices, and the refueling for them is less convenient as well.
Another alternative to gasoline is ethanol, or "grain.
alcohol." In Brazil, this is the main automotive fuel.