Good news for natural gas

[dan_s]

Trump administration right to speed process for LNG exports. Tyler Morning Telegraph, editorial.
The Trump Administration wants to streamline the process for small-scale exports of liquefied natural gas. That’s great news for Texas, in particular. One reason is that until recently, natural gas has largely been a localized commodity - too expensive to ship very far. And because of that, the markets have been volatile, with wild price swings. But LNG technology is quickly making it easier and less expensive to ship, opening up more and more markets to Texas-produced natural gas. The bigger the marketplace, the less volatility. We should do everything we can to encourage exports. They’re good for the economy and even for the environment, as cheaper and cleaner natural gas replaces coal.

Climate Group: Natural Gas, Not Renewables, Is Largest Factor In Emissions Decline. Forbes.
Natural gas’s growing share of electricity production has been the largest driver of declining U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, the climate advocacy group Carbon Brief reports. Carbon Brief points out that U.S. carbon dioxide emissions have declined 14 percent since 2005, with natural gas as the single largest reason. Electricity generation is the largest source of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, Carbon Brief observes. Fundamental changes in electricity markets since 2005 have transformed the U.S. electricity sector from one of growing emissions to one of declining emissions. “Before 2005, U.S. carbon emissions were marching upwards year after year, with little sign of slowing down,” Carbon Brief noted. “After this point, they fell quickly, declining 14% from their peak by the end of 2016. Increases in [natural] gas electricity generation is the largest driver, accounting for 33% of the total emissions reduction in 2016,” Carbon Brief reported. “Gas is far from zero-carbon, but reduces CO2 in the U.S. because it mostly displaces high-carbon coal.” According to Carbon Brief, natural gas has reduced 50% more emissions since 2005 than wind and solar power combined.
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Increasing exports of natural gas and increasing use of gas for power generation are the primary reasons the U.S. natural gas market is more than 10 Bcf per day larger than it was just five years ago. It is expected to grow by at least another 10 Bcfpd over the next five years. Demand for power generation has slowed, but industrial demand and exports are increasing. - Dan