Electricity in California
California is characterized by the large demand for electricity because it is one of the most heavily populated states in the country. To obtain the necessary energy, the state uses natural gas, nuclear power, hydroelectric power, and renewable resources. The plants and stations to produce electricity based on natural gas resources are most typical for the state. However, the state also uses the power produced by the nuclear power plants. The work of coal-fired power plants is limited in the state, and the state authorities focus on using alternative approaches such as hydroelectric power plants and renewable energy plants. Solar power plants are actively supported and developed in the state to obtain a lot of electricity from renewable energy plants.
California Mineral Resources
California can be discussed as rich in natural mineral resources. The main mineral resources in the state are gravel, sand, gold, tungsten, asbestos, boron minerals, gypsum, pumice, lime, and silver. That is why much attention is paid to the development of the mining industry in the region as the main method to extract mineral resources. The most developed mining industries in California are the cement mining industry and the sand and gravel mining industry. The natural deposits of these minerals are large, and the industry is actively developed. Mining technologies are also used to extract boron-bearing minerals.
Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)
The authors of the film state that the production of the environmentally-friendly electric car can be discussed as an important event in social life because of its positive effects on the economy and environment. However, the focus on the electric car is the real threat to the oil producers and car companies because of the expected significant losses. That is why the idea of producing electric cars failed to be realized in the 1990s. The initiative was not supported by the government, and the producers failed to attract the customers while proving the advantages of electric cars. It is possible to assume that many economic forces and many actors in the business arena were involved in the process of ‘killing’ the electric car because the focus on electric cars could change the whole economic situation in the country.
Californian Gravel
California is rich in gravel, and the gravel extraction industry is one of the actively developed industries in the state. Gravel can be discussed as the mineral formed from the rock fragments. Californian gravel deposits are the results of the erosional processes and weathering that influenced the Californian rocky territories. There are many specific quarries and mines in California to extract gravel, which is actively used in constructing roads, buildings, and industries.
Environmental Issues of Mining
Open-pit mining and underground mining have different negative effects on the environment because of eroding the landscapes and because of the risks of evaporating or extracting harmful substances. For instance, in California, open-pit mining technologies are often used, and large amounts of soils are mined to extract the minerals. Thus, the large territories are eroded because of the industries’ activities. Much attention is paid to hard rock mining to extract gravel and asbestos, but the process of extraction can be associated with releasing a lot of toxic and even radioactive elements or other harmful substances contained in the rock layers. Underground mining is associated with soil, water, and air pollution.