Natural Gas
The national interest and exports of energy
This summer, you’re likely going to see a lot more talk about exports of American-made energy. As a result of the oil and natural gas industry’s technological innovations, including hydraulic fracturing, the United States is producing levels of oil and natural gas that no one expected just a few years ago. Under the guise of protecting American interests, some are claiming that energy resources are not like other products that are commonly traded on international markets – and therefore exports should be limited. This is a fundamentally untrue statement.
Eagle Ford Shale economic data show the potential of U.S. shale plays
“…an economic opportunity of a lifetime.” That’s how Mario Hernandez, president of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, describes the advances in technology that have led to a boom in oil and natural gas production in his city and the counties in south central Texas that sit atop the Eagle Ford Shale play. Hernandez’s comments are found in a new study, “Economic Impact of the Eagle Ford Shale,” produced by the Center for Community and Business Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio. If you read this study, you’ll see Hernandez is not exaggerating; the economic benefits of Eagle Ford Shale development – in terms of jobs, economic activity and revenue to state and local governments – are significant.
Politics, not good science, at play in Vermont
As you may have read, Vermont’s political leaders have decided to ban hydraulic fracturing. This action is a product of media hype, poor science, and politics – given that Vermont has little or no proven natural gas reserves, and therefore little incentive to apply hydraulic fracturing technologies there. Interestingly, the state’s decision to ban hydraulic fracturing directly contradicts the very principles Vermont lawmakers had articulated just last year.
What you don’t know about shale gas may surprise you
You don’t have to look far these days to find news articles talking about how natural gas from shale is boosting domestic energy supplies, creating jobs and revitalizing energy-intensive U.S. industries such as manufacturing. But some recent articles also shed light on some lesser-known aspects of this shale gas “revolution” – ones that may not be as obvious, but are just as important.
Fueling a “renaissance”: U.S. jobs data show growth in energy, manufacturing
The most recent jobs report may not have met expectations, but the data did show one unmistakable trend: Domestic energy production continues to lift the U.S. economy. The March employment report, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed the U.S. oil and natural gas industry continuing to grow jobs at a pace faster than the national average. It also provided evidence that expanding supplies of oil and natural gas are fueling a “renaissance” in U.S. manufacturing – everything from automobiles to steel to paper.
Natural gas cars: A look under the hood
With U.S. natural gas production booming, and the price of natural gas right now lower than the price of gasoline or diesel fuel, some are asking: Why don’t more of our cars run on natural gas? Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles – the most common type of natural gas vehicle – have been around for…
