Using Natural Gas As A Primary Energy Source

In 2011, the United States produced 8.5 million cubic feet of natural gas, a value of nearly $36 billion, from shale gas alone. As a result, the U.S. is now the world’s top manufacturer of natural gas. Imported gases compose merely 8 percent of total natural gas consumption in the United States. Since America does not rely on imported gas, the United States has balanced it trade as the U.S. domestic supply has grown to meet its demand. Business magnate T. Boone Pickens stated, “Natural gas is the best transportation fuel. It is better than gasoline or diesel. It is cleaner, it is cheaper, and it is domestic. Natural gas is 97% domestic fuel.”

Natural gas, new age, cutting edge, right here in America. The Marcellus Shale an area in America that spans over Southern New York, a huge part of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, West Virginia, parts of Maryland and Virginia. There are a few other areas here in America such as Texas that natural gas can be found, but Marcellus Shale is the winner. It’s the underground landmine a means for the United States of America to not be so dependent on overseas oil. Natural gas burns cleaner then that of crude oil. It warms houses, lights up your barbeque, and fuels buses in major cities. The list goes on, there is even ways to turn natural gas into fuel for your vehicle. As wonderful as that might sound the questions are, at what cost to our health

Safe natural gas fracturing or “fracking” is on the rise and our country is benefiting from in on several levels. From meeting energy needs to creating jobs and helping the economy, natural gas is an invisible miracle. Many precautions are taken during the fracking process in order to ensure it is safe as possible. Natural gas is something I work around every day due to the fact I work in the oilfield and the work I do is carried out during a “frac.” Many environmentalist and various people from different scientific fields argue that the benefits are not worth the risk.

Natural gas has supplied energy to humanity since the 19th century, it offers great jobs, and is more affordable than other energy sources. Without fossil fuels/natural gas it would harder and more expensive to have everyday energy. With fracking being a big part in today’s world, people still wonder if the chemicals used are really dangerous and if there is another way to make them more earth

Natural gas is being relied upon more as an energy source instead of the polluting energy source of burning coal. This is a good thing because it is cutting out the CO2 emissions given off by using coal. However, the method of using hydraulic fracturing to get the natural gas is worse for the environment than the coal. But in the long run, the benefits of hydraulic fracturing do not outweigh the costs. Fracking releases methane gas, a greenhouse gas, into the environment. The chemicals that are being used are winding up in our drinking water, and there has been evidence that fracking has increased seismic activity in the regions in which it is being used to extract the natural gas. Using natural gas cuts down the greenhouse gas emissions of coal, but the very method to gather natural gas also increases greenhouse gas emissions. Negating any clean energy benefits that the

The Industrial Revolution created a society and energy consumption based on coal. However, in a more traditional society, natural gas has been obtained through oil drilling. While

Developing these natural gas resources can help enhance the country’s energy security, strengthen local and state economies, and fuel job growth. Many Americans, oppose any kind of pollution. However, here are reasons to support fracking: 1. It can lead to our nation becoming energy independent 2. It will provide an enormous boost to our state and local economies 3. It has already driven down natural gas prices to the point where utilities are replacing dirty coal-fired power plants with cleaner natural gas-burning plans and increasingly vehicles are burning natural gas instead of dirtier gasoline 4. It will provide many well-paying jobs to geologists, well drillers, office workers, truck drivers, construction workers, and many more.

Have you ever imagine the earth run out of resources, especially gasoline? The most significant energy we use to take for granted may be in tight supply. It would be a major inconvenience for us. That’s why I am here to discuss about it, that’s why I am here to save the earth, and that’s why I want all of you to join with me today. With fossil fuels nearing extinction, the United States has very limited options for providing the country’s millions of energy consumers with an energy source that is affordable and cost effective ; therefore, the solution is hydraulic fracking, also known as “fracking,” Natural Gas has the capabilities of fueling American cars and homes for the next hundred years, and the best part is the United States is the largest supplier of natural gas. Let’s broke it down to 3 major parts: first, how fracking natural gas affects our environment, second how it is going to boost up the economy, and third how it makes the United States becomes energy independent.

At some point in everyone’s lives, we are affected by the rising gas prices in today’s economy. Natural gas is not a renewable resource, since there is a fixed amount of it trapped in the Earth. However, many people carry the misconception that there is a very limited amount of natural gas, and that we may use all of it up. This isn’t true. The gas shortages of the 1970's were prompted by the government’s lack of faith in the industry’s ability to discover and develop new reserves, not by lack of gas supply. The unfortunate impression left by the shortages of gas in the 1970's caused the people to believe that there was a small amount of gas left. On the contrary, the gas resource base is vast, and probably even

According to Dews (2015) “As fracking grows, natural gas prices are dropping”. Fracking according to Dews led to almost a 50 percent drop in natural gas prices; allows consumers access to a far cheaper resource that is more efficient than comparable sources. Dews states that “as a result of increased fracking gas bills have dropped 13 billion per year, which adds up to $200 per year for gas consuming households.” (Dews, 2015) Thus all energy users including industries and businesses, as well as residents have started to save money due to the increased fracking. Not only have multiple consumers benefitted, but multiple regions as well; Dews accurately describes the natural thought that “one would expect colder states that use natural gas for space heating to benefit most from shale gas [yet] the West South Central region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) gained the most at $432 per person in consumer benefits.” States who widely embraced the fracking innovations were rewarded moreover than those who were reluctant. Dews also adds his opinion about the potential safety hazards, “a great deal of uncertainty remains regarding pollution from fracking.” According to Fred Dews, the benefits of fracking are tangible while the dangers are only potential and

Despite natural gas being cleaner compared to coal, its use still has impacts on the air quality, as well as human health. Besides, its production has enormous environmental consequences in form of habitat destruction. Moreover, the contribution of natural gas production to climate change is just slightly less compared to coal in terms of energy. Furthermore, a decrease in the natural gas reserves has led to doubling of its price. This makes it a more volatile and less attractive alternative for electricity production compared to clean sources such as solar and wind. There is also an opportunity of meeting power generation and heating needs using efficiency measures and renewable energy sources rather than natural gas. As such, Ontario is left with an alternative of considering most efficient and environmental friendly energy sources, which include hydropower, solar, ground heat, biomass, and wind.

“The boom in domestic natural gas productions is an example of American innovation changing the game,” states Hillary Clinton. Today the United States is producing more natural gas from fracking than anybody else. Fracking is used on a daily basis by most people. Fracking helps our lives daily. Without fracking our lives wouldn’t be the same today. Fracking is beneficial because it increases the reliance on natural gas than coal, it opens up more job opportunities, and it lowers energy cost although it has a great chance of increasing

Since the rise in popularity of hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling in 2000, a method used to extract natural gases, 30 states in the United States have decided to allow this unconventional process. There are many benefits to using the natural gases, they are a cleaner fuel source than coal, there is an abundance of the gas, and it provides energy independence for the U.S. But there are also noted draw backs, such as emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, impacts are seen on air and water quality, and health effects for humans and animals in the areas fracking takes place.

The importance of natural gas is to replace the role of oil in the economy. Natural gas is good for the US because it can produce natural gas domestically. It has plenty of energy for use in people’s homes and in industry. It will help the US economy cope with the depletion of peak oil production. Crude oil is nearly three times as expensive as Natural gas. (Pipeline, 2009-2013)

All of the above mentioned factors make it seem apparent that natural gas is the best option at this point in time. But are there any known disadvantages of natural gas? The only disadvantage that I was able to locate would be the start up costs. It will be much more expensive in the beginning to use natural gas. The cost is not because the gas is more expensive, it is because there will have to be modifications made to gas stations, bus depot fueling stations, and of course, modifications to our automobiles. A typical natural gas bus would cost between $30,000 and $50,000 more than a diesel fueled bus. This means that instead of spending approximately $270,000 per