The Horn River News has been a long time supporter of natural gas increasing its share of the North American energy mix whereby more natural gas could be used for transport and power grid while other sustainable/renewable sources provide more energy for the power grid.  Natural gas from the shale discoveries in North America including BC’s own Horn River and Montney basin have dramatically changed the energy game for North America. It is abundant, comparatively cheap and clean.  And it is a proven source of energy for transportation that is scaleable, and will put in place an infrastructure that can be used for hydrogen distribution in the future.

In 1971, natural gas held a 32% share of North America’s primary energy market. Today after nearly 25 years natural gas only accounts for 22%.  With natural gas prices sitting at an abnormal ratio to the price of a barrel of oil, country’s worldwide need to start reconsidering natural gas as a preferred, and secured energy source – especially here in North America.

According to Peter Tertzakian’s article “Natural gas to regain favor?” in the Calgary Herald:

Recent policy moves are reminiscent of the 1970s when there was a serious desire to change things up. For example, the Louisiana House of Representatives recently passed a bill to give tax incentives to businesses and consumers to buy natural gas vehicles, or convert their gasoline engines over. On the infrastructure side there are incentives for fueling stations too. Other states, including South Carolina are coming on board too, and there is serious bipartisan movement afoot at the federal level with a bill called the NAT GAS Act (HR 1835), which is expected to be introduced to the US Senate soon.

Even as prices for natural gas start to firm up as reduced conventional production from declining exploration take effect, natural gas will remain the best practical option for reducing our carbon emissions while developing new technologies and sources.