Full Title: Finding the Balance: The Role of Natural Gas in America’s Energy Future
Author(s): S. Buccino, D. Lashof, A. Stevenson, J. Presswood
Publisher(s): Natural Resources Defense Council
Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Americans use natural gas in their homes for heat, hot water, and cooking, and for commercial use in areas including manufacturing and electricity generation. Efficient use of natural gas—the cleanest‐burning of all fossil fuels—can result in substantially lower emissions of global warming pollution than many alternatives. But this does not mean we need to drill for more natural gas in valuable wild places. Invading pristine places for natural gas that we can get elsewhere would be an irreparable and costly mistake. Investments in efficiency cost less than drilling and bring benefits to the market faster than trying to increase supplies. By reducing the demand for natural gas quickly, increased efficiency will bring down the price of gas and lower bills for the average consumer right away. Congress can provide short‐term benefits and long‐term energy solutions by adopting policies that incentivize energy efficiency and support development of renewable energy sources.