Can Natural Gas Break Our Oil Habit?
It is cleaner and more abundant, but it won't free America from foreign energy
Nevertheless, many believe that natural gas remains better suited to generating electricity than powering trucks and cars. For one thing, BP's Meggs notes, producing electricity more cleanly should be a higher priority. Globally, 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions spew from power plants, double the amount that comes from ground transportation. Moreover, natural gas is a wonderful complement to wind as a power source. Wind power can be intermittent. That requires a backup fuel supply that can be switched on instantly when the wind dies and switched off just as quickly when it starts blowing again. Natural gas is the only fuel capable of performing that task.
Clearly, natural gas has a prominent role to play in America's energy mix. But whether it's capable of truly freeing the country from dependence on foreign fuel suppliers and whether it will ever be that much cheaper than oil, well, the answers to those questions remain as murky as a gallon of crude. l
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Reader Comments
re: Natural gas for heating homes
John -
Homes can easily and efficiently use solar power to heat their space and hot water. Burning coal and/or wood are things of the past.
The dirty truth behind clean natural gas
While I appreciate the scope of coverage on this article regarding the possibility of natural gas helping to end our dependence on foreign oil, there is a great an undisclosed cost that is rarely mentioned in the press regarding this promising resource:
Total environmental devastation: A stunning comment, seemingly improbable, but, in unconventional gas plays, it is all too common. I know. I live with it.
There is a growing list of communities that can now light their water on fire, yet, gas companies routinely deny impacts and force citizens to ensure monumental financial burdens of scientific discovery and litigation.
The dirty truth behind natural gas is unpleasant. It does burn cleaner, but its development destroys individuals, communities, economies, agriculture, wildlife, air quality, drinking water sources - you name it.
Can't quite believe that? I've been documenting the devastation for over a year on my website: journeyoftheforsaken.com
There, you'll see how wells blow-up, how hydrocarbons get into groundwater, how wildlife react by vacating an area or die trying.
Don't be fooled by T. Boone-doggle Picken's promise of abundant, cheap, easy, clean gas - from which he stands to make millions.
If you're looking for the truth you have to look 8,000 feet down
No mention of "renewable"
Nice article, but... no mention of the fact that gas is no more renewable than oil! (Or nuclear, for that matter!) Switching will perhaps buy us a few years, but the concept is still wrong! Destroying our environment for energy makes no sense in the long run!
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