TABLE OF CONTENTS Currently, natural gas represents approximately 24% of the energy consumed in the United States with increases in use projected for the next decade. These increases are expected because emissions of green-house gases are much lower with the consumption of natural gas relative to other fossil fuel consumption. For example, natural gas, when burned, emits lower quantities of greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants per unit of energy produced than other fossil fuels. This occurs in part because natural gas is fully combusted more easily and in part because natural gas contains fewer impurities than any other fossil fuel. However, the major constituent of natural gas, methane, also contributes directly to the greenhouse effect through venting or leaking of natural gas into the atmosphere.
Natural gas is seen by many as an important fuel in initiatives to address environmental concerns. Although natural gas is the most benign of the fossil fuels in terms of air pollution, it is less so than nonfossil-based energy sources such as renewable sources or nuclear power. However, because of its lower costs, greater resources, and existing infrastruc-ture, natural gas is projected to increase its share of energy consumption relative to all other fuels, fossil and nonfossil, under current laws and regulations. Indeed, natural gas consumption and emissions are projected to increase more rapidly than other fossil fuels, at average annual rates of 1.7% through 2020. However, this represents reductions in totalcarbon emissions derived from the environmental advantages of natural gas. Concern about global warming and...
