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Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on September 20, 2013 at 1:46pm

Chip,

Drilling for and producing Natural gas is up 40%, toxic emissions has been reduced by 20%.

Most of this is due to the war on coal by the Obama EPA. More plants are converting to natural gas as a fuel source.

I know everyone wants sources, but I just sat down and decided to respond. I'll provide the appropriate sources later. But my facts are correct.

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Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on September 20, 2013 at 1:59pm

Please notice the phrase in the quote below "...brought on by hydraulic fracturing..."

Meanwhile, the industry’s strong investment in shale development is greatly enhancing America’s carbon reduction efforts.  As natural gas use has increased – thanks to the onset of new supply brought about by hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling – carbon emissions have decreased:

“The introduction of new, efficient gas-fired capacity and a recent decline in the price of natural gas has helped boost natural gas’ share from 14 percent in 2000 to 30 percent in 2012. … From 2000 through 2012, the overall carbon dioxide intensity of the U.S. economy—measured as metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) emitted per million dollars of gross domestic product (GDP) — improved by more than 18 percent or 1.4 percent per year, as shown in Figure 16.” (link)

While there are other factors that have contributed to these emission reductions, the important role of natural gas in this decline cannot be overlooked. As countless state and federal officials have reiterated, natural gas is a key element to reducing emissions and promoting clean energy. As EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy stated in August 2013, “responsible development of natural gas is an important part of our work to curb climate change and support a robust clean energy market at home.”

The International Energy Agency (IEA) agrees. In June, an IEA report stated the drop in U.S. emissions was due in large part to increased natural gas use in the power sector, calling it a “bright spot” in the global energy outlook.  As Russell Gold of the Wall Street Journal explains:

“The decline in U.S. emissions from 2005 to 2012—706 million metric tons of carbon dioxide—puts the U.S. a long way toward achieving the 17% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions from 2005 the Obama administration set as its 2020 goal a few years ago.”

That’s a fact President Obama reiterated in his Climate Action Plan, touting natural gas as a key part of our clean energy future:

“In fact, last year, carbon emissions from the energy sector fell to the lowest level in two decades. At the same time, while there is more work to do, we are more energy secure than at any time in recent history. In 2012, America’s net oil imports fell to the lowest level in 20 years and we have become the world’s leading producer of natural gas – the cleanest-burning fossil fuel.”

“Burning natural gas is about one-half as carbon-intensive as coal, which can make it a critical ‘bridge fuel’ for many countries as the world transitions to even cleaner sources of energy.”

What’s clear is that the oil and natural gas industry is helping to reduce our carbon footprint while also promoting the increased development of affordable energy supplies. Simply put, the growth of U.S. oil and gas development is not only about economic gain, but also about real environmental benefits.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Young on September 20, 2013 at 2:59pm

He just got the dates wrong. The decline is real, but more recent. Exact percentages depend on the time period and how you want to set the standard, but good things have clearly been happening.

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Permalink Reply by jason smith on September 20, 2013 at 6:03pm

Global warming must be real because Al Gore the fraud said so.

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Permalink Reply by bo boboski on September 21, 2013 at 3:28am

Fang;  you must of read the recent article in the news about scientists are now worried about the global "cooling" situation. NOT global warming. Changes a lot of government officials  stance on the global warming issues. Obama must be listening to the wrong people?

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Permalink Reply by bo boboski on September 21, 2013 at 6:15am

Slavery has come full circle. The table has been turned.

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Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on September 21, 2013 at 4:21am

The fact is that emissions of toxic gases (greenhouse) is down in the U.S. This is primarily due to the increased use of Natural Gas. Brought us by hydraulic fracturing.

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