EnergyFactor By ExxonMobil | Pespectives has a new home

Natural Gas

Public opinion polls show that New Yorkers increasingly favor responsible development of the Marcellus Shale’s enormous natural gas resources. But despite rising support, the issue of whether to open the Empire State’s portion of the Marcellus is attracting opposition, including celebrity activists. In such cases of public disagreement, it is more important than ever for sound science to inform and guide our energy policies.

In a recent speech in Philadelphia, XTO President Jack Williams talked about the industry’s responsibility to communicate our commitment to planning, safety and operational integrity at every stage in the development of shale natural gas. Effective communication about this energy source is particularly critical in regions that haven’t been major energy-producing centers since the late 19th century.


We know that burning natural gas for electricity reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60 percent compared to coal-fired power generation – that’s a major factor behind the historic drop in U.S. emissions highlighted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Now it turns out the emissions reductions could be even more impressive going forward.

Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. were recently recorded at their lowest levels since 1992, despite the fact our economy is 60 percent bigger and we use more energy than we did two decades ago. How is this possible? Because utilities are using less coal and more natural gas for electricity generation – yet another benefit of the shale revolution transforming American energy.


The government’s National Energy Technology Laboratory recently took a look at life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas production. Their findings – that utilities see big emissions reductions when switching from coal to natural gas to generate electricity – provide further reason for policymakers to encourage the development of America’s abundant gas resources.

Earlier this month, the United States Energy Information Administration announced that “proved reserves of U.S. oil and natural gas in 2010 rose by the highest amounts ever recorded” since EIA began publishing proved reserves estimates in 1977. This record jump is stunning news, especially considering a general trend of decreasing production between 1980 and 2000. That trend is now being reversed.



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