Fossil fuels have been the principal source of electrical power for the last several decades. Fossil fuels are burned to release heat which is then used to make steam to drive turbines to generate electricity. While is was previously thought that reserves of fossil fuels were unlimited, it has been known for some time that not only is there a limited supply of fossil fuels, but it all to soon depleted as well. It is predicted that at current rates the world supply of fossil fuels will be exhausted by 2060. In addition to this problem of limited supply, the burning of fossil fuels releases all manner of pollutants into the air, especially greenhouse gases such as CO2. With the availability of fossil fuels decreasing and the need for these resources in other venues such as plastics production, it is necessary to look to other sources to handle are electrical power needs.
However, fossil fuels provide the cheapest and most dependable energy. Coal and oil have been used for electricity for decades and such a vast infrastructure is difficult to ignore. With so many power plants producing so much power it is likely that they will be providing energy until there is no longer fuel to power them. The use of fossil fuels, at the present, is too affordable and easy to not be a principal source of today's power. It is only in the long range outlook that fossil fuels lose their appeal.