10 Worst Energy-Related Disasters of 2011

[Nathanael]

Feeding the globe's insatiable energy appetite is a highly dangerous business. And, unfortunately, events like the BP oil spill are not once-in-a-generation freak accidents. Here, we take a look at the biggest energy-related accidents in 2011.

Go through the slideshow here: http://www.energyboom.com/coal/10-worst-energy-related-disasters-2011

[Nihil]

1. Horrible yet fascinating.

Thanks for posting it - too many of them were just one-day wonders in the media
(despite the death-counts and the long-term damage).

[GliderGuider]

2. And 9 of the 10 were related to fossil fuels...

Labelled the world's "worst ecological oil catastrophe," Russia's oil industry spills an estimated 30 million barrels of oil every year -- this is the equivalent of a Deepwater Horizon oil spill every two months. Experts estimate that 10%-15% of this oil gets spilled into rivers, with half a million tons spilling into the Arctic Ocean annually. Seeping through rusted pipes and old wells, this continuous oil leak wreaks havoc on rivers, plant life, and animal habitat. The latest data shows that in 2010, Russia was home to 18,000 oil leaks.

Case in point.

[Nathanael]

3. But Renewables and Energy Efficiency Struggle

To gain traction. The PR strategy of the fossil fuel industry has been truly remarkable -- up there with the tabacco industry. They've framed new energy technologies as inefficient and expensive, and some how pulled the cover over the eyes of the public in regard to other costs such as those highlighted by these disasters.