The cleanest nonrenewable energy sources are nuclear, natural gas, and hydropower. All energy sources have negative effects, but they differ enormously in size: as we will see, fossil fuels are the dirtiest and most dangerous, while. . Natural gas is widely considered the least-polluting nonrenewable energy source when compared to coal, oil, and biomass. It emits lower levels of CO₂, NOₓ, and SO₂, and produces less black carbon or byproducts. For example, when you burn a piece of coal, it's gone forever, and you can't use it again. Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geography, Social Studies, Economics Coal is a black sedimentary rock that can be burned for fuel and used to generate electricity. Nuclear power generation often uses uranium, an abundant but not technically renewable. .
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