America used around 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas last year, amounting to 31% of the country’s total energy consumption.
Natural gas contains mostly methane, which can be collected from manure and waste and is used for generating electricity and residential heating.
Natural Gas a Low-Carbon Energy Source
Being greener, natural gas has become a popular energy source in Europe, but has been slower to establish itself in the U.S. as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
Not everyone can get a natural gas supply and for those that can, the cost can vary considerably.
But natural gas is clean, reliable, and affordable and the hope is for it to transform the future of energy.
Access To Natural Gas Pipelines Varies From State To State
Although America has finally woken up to embracing natural gas, even if not everyone can get it.
In some cases, pipelines are in the wrong place, or they are decades old and also too small.
For those who can get a natural gas supply, prices can vary considerably from state to state because of fuel blends, taxes, and margins.
The Ohio natural gas supply, for example, reaches around 3 million people and home to more than 100 unique pipeline operators.
Meanwhile, Berkeley, in California, has become America’s first city to ban natural gas hook-ups in new multi-family constructions.
A Greener Energy Source
Natural gas is a cleaner alternative to conventional energy sources. It burns much cleaner compared to other fossil fuels and produces lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides, which can be harmful to the environment and our health.
Compared to other fossil fuels, it produces fewer greenhouse gases, and because it is not producing ash or particulate matter, it has a few direct health benefits.
Carbon Dioxide Lowest In 25 Years
But while Berkely may be concerned about the use of energy in buildings and meeting its target of 100% zero-carbon energy by 2045, when used to generate electricity, natural gas emits just half the CO2 emissions compared to coal.
Levels of carbon dioxide in the air have been the lowest in two and a half decades and that’s thanks to power plants using significantly more natural gas since 2005.
Moving towards, natural gas has actually seen CO2 emissions drop by nearly two-thirds between 2006 and 2014.
Natural Gas More Reliable Than Alternative Energy Sources
America needs electricity to be available and reliable at a flick of a switch at any time of the day or night.
For this to be able to happen, at any one time, there must be as much power supplied to the energy grip as the power being used.
Natural gas generation reliably meets these needs and provides dispatchable power to meet the steady demand, while also providing fast and flexible power to support the grid.
This means that Americans can still light and power their homes, even when intermittent resources such as solar and wind are not available.
Natural Gas Means Affordable Gas
While the supply may not be the same across every state, America has a lot of natural gas reserves.
This promises long-term stable and affordable prices. But prices across the U.S. do vary from state to state because of different fuel blends, demand, climate, taxes, and margins.
In Hawaii and California, for example, you can expect to pay more for your natural gas supply than if you lived in Missouri.
With continued advancements in natural gas extraction, combined with improved production methods, the cost of natural gas is only set to continue to stabilize and offer American’s a more affordable option.
While the US may have not been as quick as Europe to fully embrace natural gas as a major energy source, it’s started to become more commonplace across the country.
It is an attractive, affordable and alternative fuel which looks set to transform the energy industry.
