by D. O'Larde

Created on: November 02, 2008

Natural gas demand will grow more than 38% by 2025, projected consumption growth rate is 1.5% annually, and predicted annual import growth rate is 4.1%. These are the forecast of the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The American Gas Association reports that 84% of the U.S. natural gas consumed is produced locally, 13% from Canada, and 3% is provided in the form of LNG, which is imported primarily from politically stable countries such as Trinidad and Tobago. With the increased need by Canada itself in using natural gas in extracting oil from sands in Alberta and increased use of same for a cleaner fuel for their power plants, Canada can no longer supply the U.S. more than what they are already supplying. The one option that the U.S.

has is to put up more LNG storage facilities to accommodate more LNG imports that will contribute to meeting the increasing customers need.

The other option is more use of renewable energy. Natural gas is one energy source used for heating and cooking in the domestic, commercial, and industrial sector. It is also used in generating electricity and as an alternative fuel in transportation. The campaign for more use of natural gas instead of gasoline in vehicles is favored by some but will definitely increase the burden for more supply of natural gas. Perhaps a better alternative is to increase and develop the use of solar or electric energy in vehicles. Research and development is now being done in making a battery that can sustain a longer charge. More encouragement and support from the government is forthcoming. Solar cells, while it can not store electric energy like the battery can be developed to be used together with the battery to run the electric motor of an electric car.

Solar power can be used to generate electricity for lighting in the home to relieve the power grid which can be partially fed from natural-gas powered power plants. Solar panels can be installed in homes to boil water and to warm space. More use of hydro power and wind energy where feasible for electric power generation would definitely reduce the burden on natural gas. Geothermal power plants make use of steam coming out naturally from the earth is renewable energy assisting energy need from natural gas. S C Johnson, a manufacturing company making consumer needs such as "Windex" makes use of methane from garbage to produce energy in running their manufacturing plant does its part in contributing to reducing the need for natural gas or any fossil fuel for that matter.

In other countries, such as Germany the switch to the use of renewable energy is intense so much so that it can cause the decline of oil and natural gas prices globally but should not discourage the world in investing more in the development of renewable energy because of the all important goal of slowing down global warming and reducing greenhouse gas. However, in the U.S.
it is a long way to go because in 2004 the renewable energy type of fuel consumption is only 6%. In 2006, 18% of global energy consumption comes from renewable energy. Today, it would be fair to conclude that the use of renewable energy has not changed that much. It is therefore important that we strive to use less and less of fossil fuel and more and more of renewable energy in order to reduce the burden on natural gas and slow down global warming.

Learn more about this author, D. O'Larde.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.