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Coming Down To Earth on a ‘Clean Energy’ Standard?
Read my latest response on the National Journal’s Energy and Environment Experts blog to the question, “Should Congress Embrace A ‘Clean Energy’ Standard?”
AGA has long supported, to the fullest extent possible, the development of a diverse domestic energy supply, including coal, oil, nuclear, wind, hydro, solar and, of course, natural gas. Senator Graham’s proposal, while an important first step, does not fully engage all of America’s low-carbon tools in our fight to reduce carbon emissions; specifically, it omits natural gas. As Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently told us at an AGA Board of Directors meeting, natural gas is a necessary component of any truly renewable energy program.
The fact remains that all of the power produced by alternative and renewable fuel sources meets only a small portion of the country’s daily energy needs, and those dependent on solar and wind to produce electricity rely on natural gas as a back-up fuel when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. A realistic plan for a low-carbon future, therefore, must include, and support, traditional and proven fuel sources such as natural gas.
With major energy producers publicly turning to natural gas as their fuel of choice, the message is clear – as the cleanest of all fossil fuels, natural gas can provide the nation and its consumers with a proven, reliable, low-carbon source of energy.
Equally important is ensuring that the most effective and efficient application of natural gas – its direct use in the home for space heating, heating water, cooking, and other end-use applications – is encouraged and supported. Direct use of natural gas is by far the most efficient, cost effective and green choice when compared to converting gas to electricity to power the same end-use applications.
The best way to address climate change and support the renewable market, while still providing America with the reliable energy it needs to grow its economy, is with a wide-ranging set of options that includes natural gas and all of America’s other energy resources.
Coming Down To Earth, A Winning Strategy For Renewables
Read my latest response on the National Journal’s Energy and Environment Experts blog to the question, “What’s A Winning Strategy For Renewables?”
AGA has long supported, to the fullest extent possible, the development of a diverse domestic energy supply, including coal, oil, nuclear, wind, hydro, solar and, of course, natural gas. As Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently told our board of directors, natural gas is a necessary component of any truly renewable energy program.
And, while everyone is encouraged by the increased awareness being brought to renewables, the fact remains that all of the power produced by alternative and renewable fuel sources meets only a small portion of the country’s daily energy needs. A realistic plan for a low-carbon future, therefore, must include, and support, traditional and proven fuel sources like natural gas.
While coal has historically been the dominant fuel in America’s domestic resource base, natural gas has begun to play an increasingly important role in electricity generation. With major energy producers publicly turning to natural gas as their fuel of choice, the message is clear – as the cleanest of all fossil fuels, natural gas can provide the nation and its consumers with a proven, reliable, low-carbon source of energy.
Equally important is ensuring that the most effective and efficient application of natural gas – directly using natural gas to heat homes, to heat water, for cooking, and for other end-use applications – is encouraged and supported. Direct use of natural gas is more efficient, more cost effective and greener than converting gas to electricity to power the same end-use applications.
The best way to address climate change and support the renewable market, while still providing America with the energy it needs to grow its economy, is with a wide-ranging set of options that accesses and utilizes natural gas, and all of America’s other energy resources.
Can Obama Satisfy The World And Congress?
My latest comment from the National Journal’s Energy and Environment Experts blog.
Creating a Practical, Doable Solution
As an issue, climate change – regardless of how people choose to define it – probably sits near the top of every major government’s to-do list. In a perfect world, that fact alone should be enough to spur into action the world leaders currently gathering in Copenhagen.
We do not, however, live in a perfect world. We live in a world where climate change, although a very important issue, is one of many facing policy makers with limited time, limited budgets and an expanding portfolio of pressing concerns. What can President Obama do to satisfy the world and express in action America’s commitment to addressing the probable effects of climate change? First and foremost he can look to his own country and its rich supply of innovation, creativity and domestic low-carbon resources.
The United States is home to many of the world’s leading alternative energy and carbon-neutral researchers, creative thinkers and entrepreneurs. Some are academics seeking to develop low-impact resources for idealistic reasons while others are traditional energy companies looking to capitalize on the green energy market. Both should be encouraged, because fundamentally shifting the very concepts of energy and energy supply will be an expensive and a long journey.
There is no “app” for clean energy, but there is a strategy and, given time, it will likely bear fruit: (1) continue to invest in energy efficiency technologies; (2) support and encourage alternative power generation sources such as nuclear, solar, wind, bio fuels and hydro; and (3) intelligently develop existing, domestic low-carbon resources such as abundant, clean natural gas.
The practical task of changing how electricity is generated and used will not be achieved through some panacea, but through the intelligent coordination of multiple, scalable solutions which will take time and significant resources to reach. Natural gas is a major part of the solution, but we need to be realistic about what it will take to get to that carbon-neutral future and what the real costs entail.
True Blue Natural Gas Blog from the American Gas Association (AGA)- Diversification of natural gas supply is an essential consumer protection
- From Austin to Boston in a natural gas vehicle
- Natural gas, how about zero carbon emissions
- The real natural gas message in a climate crunch
- Let’s work together to protect our seniors
- Natural Gas Market Indicators
- Coming Down To Earth on a ‘Clean Energy’ Standard?
- The convenience of the natural gas fireplace
- Coming Down To Earth, A Winning Strategy For Renewables
- Energy Secretary Chu Identifies Natural Gas as Key to a Low-Carbon Future
