



Ally Renewables with Natural Gas



photo of a city bus, painted with vines and flowerscourtesy Kathy DoucetteNatural gas can easily power larger vehicles like this Washington bus.


Each year, coal emits 2 billion tons of CO2 for electric power generation in the United States. Because natural gas is 50 to 70 percent more carbon efficient than coal for the same energy output, switching our coal generation to natural gas will radically reduce the nation’s emissions by up to 500 million tons of CO2 per year in the near-term (1-2 years) and by more than a billion tons per year in the medium-term (10 years). There are no other options that provide these volumes of reductions this fast. Rapidly transitioning our energy infrastructure away from coal and oil toward renewables backed up by clean burning natural gas makes good sense. Renewables emit no greenhouse gases, and when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing, burning natural gas creates far less health and environmental damage than coal and oil. As we expand our renewables portfolio, the natural gas electricity generation could be ratcheted back.

The reason that natural gas generation can be ramped up so quickly in the US is that the infrastructure for electrical generation is sitting idle most of the time. For most of the year, the natural gas-fed electric power plants are used less than 40 percent of the time. The Congressional Research Office estimates that by simply dispatching gas ahead of coal, the US could reduce 400 million tons of CO2 per year with existing infrastructure.



Vote and be counted.

In the transportation sector, electric cars charged by a grid that is powered by renewables and natural gas would deliver tremendous CO2 emissions reductions. For larger vehicles, natural gas can substitute directly for oil. Take as just one opportunity our long-haul 18-wheeler fleet which cannot be run on batteries. If we converted 40 percent of 18-wheel trucks to natural gas, we would displace about 20 percent of our diesel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 40 million tons per year.

Making a transition from oil to renewables and natural gas would have other benefits. In an average month, the US imports more than 300 million barrels of oil. In 2011, we will send approximately a third of a trillion dollars out of the country to pay for our gasoline and diesel. Switching to electric cars and to natural gas powered trucks would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve national security, reduce our trade deficit, strengthen our economy, and radically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental groups are rightly concerned about the impact that “unconventional” natural gas drilling has on groundwater, surface water, communities, and biodiversity. Currently, shale gas exploration and production is governed by a complex set of federal, state, and local laws. This fragmented regulatory landscape poses a challenge to ensuring responsible production practices and address public concerns about the environment. We must launch a multilateral effort that encourages pro-active participation and collaboration by NGOs, industry, elected officials, and regulators to do it right. A critical goal must be to demonstrate that government, NGO’s and industry can work together.


For an opposing view, read what Jennifer Krill has to say…


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Oh oops on those natural gas powered vehicles.

‘Clean’ fuel made some vehicle emissions worse, UBC study discovers
New Delhi’s sweeping conversion to compressed natural gas has mixed results.

Hitching a clean fuel ride in India could actually harm environment: study

By Sharon Wilson on Wed, March 02, 2011 at 2:50 pm

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