Energy density

Energy density is a term used to describe how much energy in one pound of any substance and this varies. Product BTU’s per pound Wood 7,000 Coal 12,000 Oil, gasoline and natural gas 20,000 Enriched uranium 1.25 billion Thorium 270 billion The higher density products produce far less waste. For example, burning 12,000 pounds of coal would produce 2,000 pounds of waste not counting CO2 while thorium would be less than one pound. The coal waste would contain sulfur and nitrogen oxides (which cause acid rain), heavy metals like lead, arsenic and mercury along with 20,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.