Most imported fossil fuels must travel across great distances via freighter
or pipeline. These distribution methods are expensive and prone to distasters
with devastating effects on local communities and ecosystems. Alternatively,
clean energy from sources such as wind or solar can be generated on-site
or carried as electricity through the grid to consumers' locations with
little risk of environmental damage or economic costs. Furthermore, liquid
fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel can be produced in rural areas and transported
by road, rail, or regional pipeline. The advantage of transporting biofuels
is that, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, spills of
these fuels do not pose significantly affect the enviroment.
| Date | Location | Description | Litres | Gallons |
|---|
March 1967 | off Cornwall, England | grounding of Torrey Canyon | 134 | 35.4 | | June 1968 | off South Africa | Hull failure of World Glory | 42 | 11 |
| December 1972 | Gulf of Oman | collision of Sea Star with another ship | 117 | 31 |
| May 1976 | La Coruna, Spain | grounding of the Urquiola | 68-79 | 18-21 |
| December 1976 | Nantucket (MA), United States | grounding of Argo Merchant | 28.4 | 7.5 |
| February 1977 | mid-Pacific | Hawaiian Patriot develops leak and catches fire | 114 | 30 |
| April 1977 | North Sea | blowout of well in Ekofisk oil field | 307 | 81 |
| March 1978 | Portsall, Brittany, France | grounding of the Amoco Cadiz | 257 | 68 |
| June 1979 | Gulf of Mexico | blowout of well in Ixtoc 1 | 681 | 180 |
| July 1979 | off Tobago, Caribbean | collision of the Atlantic Empress and Aegean Captain | 420 | 111 |
| February 1983 | Persian Gulf | blowout of well in Nowruz oil field | 681 | 180 |
| August 1983 | off Cape Town, South Africa | fire on board the Castillo de Bellver | 284 | 75 |
| September 1985 | Delaware River, United States | grounding of Grand Eagle | 1.9 | 0.5 |
| January 1988 | Floreffe (PA), United States | collapsing of Ashland oil storage tank | 2.6-3.0 | 0.7-0.8 |
| March 1989 | Prince William Sound, off Alaskan Coast | grounding of Exxon Valdez | 41.3 | 10.9 |
| June 1989 | Canary Islands | fire on board the Kharg 5 | 73.8 | 19.5 |
| January 1991 | Sea Island Terminal of Persian Gulf | deliberate release of oil by Iraqi troops at end of Persian Gulf War | 908 | 240 |
| January 1993 | Shetland Islands, Scotland | grounding of Braer | 148 | 39 |
| August 1993 | Tampa Bay, United States | collision of two barges and a Philippine freighter | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| January 1996 | south shore of Rhode Island, United States | grounding of the tugboat Scandia and North Cape tanker it was towing | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| February 1996 | Pembrokeshire coastline of Wales, British Isles | grounding of Sea Empress | 72 | 19 |
| January 1997 | Sea of Japan | Russian tanker breaks in half in rough seas | 4.9 | 1.3 |
| December 1999 | French Atlantic Coast, France | Maltese tanker breaks apart and sinks off Britanny | 11.4 | 3.0 |
| January 2000 | Guanabara Bay, Brazil | Petrobas pipe ruptures | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| November 2000 | Lower Mississippi River, United States | oil tanker runs aground in Louisiana | 2.3 | 0.6 |
| October 2001 | Port of Paraguana, Brazil | Petrobas ship hits rocks | 4.9 | 1.3 |
| November 2002 | off Galicia coast, Spain | oil tanker breaks up in heavy seas | 34.1 | 9.0 |
