As of 2015, coal no longer reigns supreme as the primary fuel for electric power in the United States. It has already been overtaken by natural gas. For many people, this is the biggest boon in the energy sector that can be hoped for.
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Image source: lngfacts.org
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Between the noxious fumes and the high volume of greenhouse gases produced, the continued use of coal in electricity production has been a stumbling block in U.S. environmental policy. Calling for the eventual phasing out of coal has been an uphill battle until relatively recently, when a significant increase in natural gas production made it a very viable alternative or transitional source of energy.
Natural gas is the cleanest of the fossil fuels and produces half as much carbon dioxide as an equivalent unit of coal when burned. It is also composed mainly of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas. The methane component is burned off when natural gas is used as fuel, which eliminates the risk of it escaping to the atmosphere.
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Image source: worldwatch.org
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For years, natural gas has been used throughout the country for heating and has seen use as a fuel for energy production. Most natural gas consumption for energy has traditionally been domestic due to initial difficulties in transportation, and the risk of leaks has been a constant concern in the industry. Regardless, burning natural gas as a fuel comprises a lucrative alternative to flaring it in situ.
Recent developments in extraction technology have made it possible for the natural gas industry to expand, given the growing needs for energy. And because the U.S. sits on now economically viable deposits of natural gas, further exploration and development also offer a degree of domestic energy security.
Brian Alfaro heads Primera Energy, a company with significant investments in oil and natural gas exploration in Texas. Visit this blog for more updates on the oil and gas industry.
