A few thoughts on this issue
by EmilT76 (2024-01-30 17:31:41)

In reply to: There's a Fight Brewing over LNG.  posted by EricCartman



There are a lot of dimensions to natural gas policy, so here are some observations

1) The battle against coal (the worst green house gas emitter from a lbs of CO2 per unit of energy perspective) is mostly won in the United States. Next down the list is natural gas as it also produces a good amount of CO2 when burned
2) It turns out natural gas, especially the majority methane component, is itself a green house gas. This aspect comes into play with fugitive emissions from gas wells, pipelines, in town distribution systems, and factories and homes. Using a first 20 year greenhouse gas impact, methane is 80 times worse than CO2. Therefore the fugitive emissions can have a significant global warming impact. Belching cows also contribute.
3) As a result of the global warming potential of methane and natural gas, jurisdictions are hoping to ban new home construction that use natural gas for cooking/heat, and phase out its use entirely over time. Perhaps you have seen California and some cities taking this approach. The LNG export industry is a natural, and easy, target for the environmentalists.
4) The other side of the coin is that natural gas is the logical transition fuel as solar and wind power start to play a larger role in the grid. How do we get electricity when the sun isn't shining and wind isn't blowing. The answer is quick response natural gas combined cycle power plants. (Of course nuclear power doesn't have the intermittency problem and is really the better solution, but is pretty pricey to build)
5) Europe, especially the European Community, has some pretty serious targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Their grid is getting pretty heavy in wind and solar power so they definitely need the LNG to power the natural gas combined cycle plants to cover for the shortfalls.
6) From my perspective, in the next few decades the production of natural gas and LNG actually aids the transition to a low carbon future. The decision of the Biden administration is pretty short sighted, if not outright dumb, in that context. It is worth noting there has been a lot of technology developed to monitor fugitive natural gas emissions, and "big oil" has virtually eliminated the problem from their natural gas production and fracking operations.


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