Coal and oil are two of the world's most important sources of primary energy. A multi-trillion dollar infrastructure has been created to locate, produce, transport, process, and burn coal and oil. This infrastructure has made modern life possible. In some of the world's largest economies, coal-fired power plants generate at least half of all electricity, and in almost all nations, transportation is synonymous with oil consumption. Coal and Oil describes the history of these sources of energy. The technology of coal and oil - that is, the mining of coal and the drilling for oil as well as the processing of coal and the refining of oil - are discussed in detail, as are the methods by which these primary energy sources are converted into usable working energy. Special attention is given to the environmental effects, both local and global, associated with their use and the relationships that have developed between governments and these most important industries. This comprehensive new resource also focuses on global dependence on these resources.