As the weather turns colder, more Americans are relying on clean, affordable, reliable natural gas to keep their houses warm and cook family dinners during the holidays. That’s not what Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers were thinking about in a new report on what they consider an “uncertain role” for natural gas in a clean energy economy.
Although the researchers concede that “natural gas use would still be a significant part of the energy mix” were wind, solar, and nuclear installations to be increased, they remain concerned about climate implications of methane leakage and practices like venting and flaring. Such concerns fail to take into account the fact that methane leakage rates are estimated to be far below the threshold for natural gas to maintain its climate benefits and the steps industry is taking to further reduce emissions.
EID has six facts to remember while reading on EIDClimate.org.
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