The Future Role of Natural Gas?
Where are we going to get it?
Natural Gas Distribution in the World
The possible role of Natural Gas in the energy equation for the future was brought up in the debate so we must as well examine it in a more critical fashion.
Supply and Demand:
Let's first remind our selve that Energy Consumption is likely to continue to grow so we need something.
In the US, natural gas production peaked in early 70's and has slowly declined. This decline was met by a corresponding decline in consumption until the mid 80's when the US began to start importing more. This is due primarily to a shift away from Coal.
In the Lower 48 alone, there's an estimated 213 trillion cubic feet of natural gas beneath federal lands or waters where moratoria or excessive regulation make exploration virtually impossible - in the West, on the East and West Coasts and in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico - a 10-year supply at today's demand rate.
Still consumption is increasing exceeding supply and thus new sources need to be found. Note there is a plan to finish a direct natural gas pipeline from Alaska to the lower 48 by the year 2020.
In addition, LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) imports will rise dramatically.
Making New Facilities
Finding New Sources
What is this?
Price Volatility
Barriers to Extraction in the Inner Mountain West
The federal government is now confronted with litigation threats and actions at every step in its process. Litigation has been filed to prevent exploration activities designed to identify possible resources. Litigation is filed over granting permits, challenging existing RMPs and opposing revisions to EISs. The primary result of this litigation is delay and more delay - and no new energy supplies. Delay is a key component of the strategy. Energy producers must invest capital, must replace and expand their production. If opponents to development can forestall access, it forces producers to shift their investment elsewhere. The longer producers are delayed, the higher the likelihood that they will give up on an area. This is the ultimate objective of this strategy of litigation, but it is ultimately a strategy that costs the nation domestic natural gas and impacts our energy security. .
The US Pipeline Distribution System
Natural Gas as Electricity (heat water):
Emissions:
1135 lbs of CO2 per MWh 
1/2 as much
from Coal.
0.1 lbs of SO2 per MWh 1% that of Coal.
1.7 lbs of NOx per MWh 1/3 that of Coal.