NPR’s natural gas seriesNPR today wrapped up a three-part series on the story of natural gas. I want to applaud NPR for taking the time to focus the attention of its readers and listeners on the importance of natural gas in the green energy discussion. Natural gas is an abundant, reliable and domestic source of energy that is also the lowest carbon fossil fuel.
While I agree with many of the people who commented on the stories who call for a balanced discussion about all aspects of natural gas production, the fact remains that we need to address pressing energy issues now.
The American Gas Association, which represents 202 local energy utilities across the country, actively supports the use of alternative fuel sources for electric generation. Natural gas is already the cleanest fossil fuel—it contains just one carbon atom—and combined with new, highly efficient natural gas technologies, natural gas used directly in America’s homes and businesses is the most immediate and way to begin to meet the demands of low-carbon future.
This important discussion needs to continue, but even the most optimistic projections show that renewables will not be able to provide significant power generation for at least several decades. As America’s energy demands continue to grow at a breakneck pace the choice that faces us right here and right now remains the same. Any sensible energy plan must include natural gas, which already meets one-fourth of America’s energy needs and is the fastest growing of the fossil fuels.
You forgot to mention that natural gas can also be combusted to well over 90% energy efficiency. Can’t do that with coal or oil.
Coal and oil leave soot and ash. Nuclear leaves spent fuel rods.
Natural gas when combusted efficiently leaves behind water, and this water can also be utilized.
Coal needs to be transported in and the ash hauled out by diesel fueld trucks and trains. Natural gas gets piped in.
When natural gas is combusted, the exhaust is hot, but with the technology of “condensing flue gas heat recovery” this energy can be recovered from the exhaust gases. Then cool exhaust is vented into the atmosphere.
The DOE states that for every million BTU’s recovered from these waste exhaust gases, and this recovered energy is utilized back in the facility, 118 lbs of CO2 is NOT emitted into the atmosphere.
Natural gas is this countries champagne fuel. It dosen’t get any better.
So how is it possible to use water fuel as an alternate source of vehicle fuel? First and foremost, one should understand the composition and capacity of one of nature’s vast resources. The alternative of using water fuel as a supplemental energy for cars would release by products such as water and oxygen, which are not harmful to the surroundings.