Natural Gas

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that can be a byproduct of petroleum extraction and production (known as associated natural gas), extracted from separate natural gas fields (non-associated natural gas), or extracted from other areas such as coal-beds or shale (continuous or unconventional gas).^[1] It consists of about 75% methane, and the rest is made up of ethane (15%) and other hydrocarbons,^[2] but this varies by region and degree of refinement. It is naturally odorless, so odor is added to make a leak detectable.

When burned for electricity production (its most common use), natural gas produces significantly less pollution than coal, the most popular source of energy in the United States for electricity production. Natural gas produces no sulfur dioxide (the main contributor to acid rain, and which coal produces, though in much smaller quantities after the 1990 amendment to the Clean Air Act). Natural gas also produces over 77% less nitrogen oxide air pollutants (important contributors to smog and respiratory health problems) compared to coal, on average.^[3] As such, it is especially useful in urban environments (e.g., in fueling buses) where local concentrations of airborne pollutants can cause certain health issues. If considering carbon dioxide as a pollutant, natural gas produces over 36% less CO₂ emissions from electricity generation compared to coal, on average. In the U.S. in 2008, natural gas made up about 20% of electricity production^[4] and 16% of CO₂ emissions from electricity production, compared to 48% and 82%, respectively, for coal. CO₂ emissions from electricity generation make up 41% of total U.S. CO₂ emissions.^[5]

Canadian National is testing two railroad locomotives which have been converted to use natural gas.^[6]

References[edit]

1. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey. Natural Gas Production in the United States. 2002. http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-0113-01/fs-0113-01.pdf
2. ↑ http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/methane/methane.html
3. ↑ Proops, J.L.R., et. al. "The lifetime pollution implications of various types of electricity generation: an input-output analysis." 1996. Energy Policy Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 229-237.
4. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration. Annual Energy Outlook 2010 - Electricity Demand. http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/archive/aeo10/electricity.html
5. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration. Annual Energy Outlook 2010 - Emissions Projections. http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/archive/aeo10/emission.html
6. ↑ http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/freight/single-view/view/natural-gas-fuelled-locomotives-on-test.html