NPR’s natural gas series

September 24, 2009 by Chris Hogan · 2 Comments
Filed under: Natural Gas

NPR 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.

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Natural gas week on NPR

September 23, 2009 by Dan Gibson · 1 Comment
Filed under: Natural Gas

Does anyone call NPR National Public Radio anymore? Because they’re not just radio. I come across them quite a bit as I’m moving through the digital world. From their great iPhone app to discussion of their success on the social web and building community, NPR comes up quite a bit. The AIGA (they no longer go by American Institute of Graphic Arts) even did a case study examining NRP’s relaunch of npr.org.

But why am I writing about NPR all of a sudden on truebluenaturalgas.org?

Well, first a reminder that True Blue is a platform for AGA staff to talk about their interests, not necessarily natural gas related. Don’t get me wrong. If you want information on natural gas from the natural gas experts, you’re in the right place. But you’ll also have an opportunity to learn a little about these experts.

The other reason is NPR gives me a reason to write about their work here because they’re doing a pretty good impression of “natural gas week on NPR.”

They start off with an article by Tom Gjelten titled “Rediscovering Natural Gas By Hitting Rock Bottom.” Gjelten talks with Robert Hefner, identified as a veteran gas producer from Oklahoma. Hefner shares our view on abundance of the natural gas supply saying, “I used to say the nation is awash in natural gas. Now I say we’re drowning in it.”

The article touches on the Marcellus basin. Per the article, that basin alone is believed to hold as much as 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the equivalent of about 80 billion barrels of oil.

Gjelten also touches on the potential environmental impact of switching to natural gas. Natural gas is cheaper than oil, and produces only about half the carbon dioxide that comes from burning coal.

The article finishes with a good quote from Christopher Flavin, president of Worldwatch Institute. “You can combine that with improvements in end-use efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources, and really see these as a partnership. Even the International Energy Agency is saying the path for oil is downward, and suddenly we’ve got this very different picture for natural gas,” says Flavin. “I think it’s unfortunately not fully percolated into the understanding of what’s possible among policymakers. But I think as that takes hold in the next few years, it’s really going to change the game.”

What do you think of the article?

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