What are the differences between fossil fuel and hydroelectric?

Answer 1

The differences are HUGE!

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas produce electricity usually by boiling water into steam. The steam is used to turn the electricity turbines to generate power.

The amount of pollution is collosal! Carbon dioxide, water vapor (both adding to the greenhouse layer), nitrous oxides and sulfur oxides (contributing to air pollution and acid rain), and in the case of coal power stations, fly ash and Mercury as well as the waste ash after burning.

Hydro-electric power stations use the energy of moving water and gravity to turn turbines to produce electricity. There is no carbon dioxide or any kind of pollution given off, so the energy is "clean and green".

(The building of the dams for hydro-electricity often damages the environment, the river banks and countryside, and sometimes cause earthquakes. There is also a certain amount of carbon dioxide and other pollution and waste produced in the manufacture of the turbines and the concrete and building of the dam.)