The future of natural gas is here. It has replaced a lot of coal burning power plants and less homes are now heated by coal.
So what is the total usage of natural gas?"The United States is the 2nd largest energy consumer in terms of total use in 2010.[1] The U.S. ranks seventh in energy consumption per-capita after Canada and a number of small countries.[2][3] Not included is the significant amount of energy used overseas in the production of retail and industrial goods consumed in the U.S.
The majority of this energy is derived from fossil fuels: in 2010, EIA data showed 25% of the nation's energy came from petroleum, 22% from coal, and 22% from natural gas. Nuclear power supplied 8.4% and renewable energy supplied 8%,[4] which was mainly from hydroelectric dams although other renewables are included such as wind power, geothermal and solar energy.[5] Energy consumption has increased at a faster rate than energy production over the last fifty years in the U.S.(when they were roughly equal). This difference is now largely met through imports.[6]" Wikipedia on energy in the United States.
CNN had broadcast an accusation that Obama has reduced/restricted the use of Natural gas from Newt Gingrich and Media matters has posted a rebuttal to those claims: http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/09/27/cnn-allows-gingrich-to-lie-about-obamas-natural/190180
However there have been some important restrictions to Fracking added to the industry. Providing information on what chemicals are used for Fracking have been now allowed. Hence now people when discovering chemicals in their water can now tell if it has byproducts from fracking. Since clean water will be very valuable in the future, some safeguards should be put into place.
The future for California? ( a later edit added)
California has a lot of natural gas stoves and water heaters. In the quest for more supply for natural gas, Sempera of San Diego invested in a Liquified natural gas Dock in Ensenada Mexico. Liquified gas from Russia, Quatar and Indonesia can bring natural gas into Mexico and be transfered by pipeline to the United States.
California is too afraid to have a liquified natural gas dock in the waters of California. Hence the risk was passed onto Mexico. If more energy is needed by California, it looks like the energy needs will not be fulfilled in California. Strangely the supply of natural gas was almost stopped in Mexico:
Costa Azul LNG terminal in Baja Mexico http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/18/what-was-behind-ensenada-lng-showdown/?page=1#article
Comments (13)
You always find the most interesting and unusual things to write about.
Good post. There is a lot of renewed interest in private rain harvesting happening here although some councils are prohibiting the use of private water. Others are requiring owners to install on-site water treatment plants. :/
From 2003 to 2009 we harvested our own water and drank it straight from the tank. I had it tested several times and it was found to be of superior quality to town supply. Bird shit and all! Just think of all those trace elements. Yum!
@Relic47 - Looks like natural gas production is reduced in New Zealand:
"Latest statistics from the Ministry of Economic Development show that
domestic gas production in the year to March 2004 declined by 26 percent
with 66 percent of production coming from the Maui field.
Remaining total gas reserves as at 1 January 2004 are reported as
1,462 PJ (gross). This figure is only slightly lower than that for the
previous year and reflects upward reviews by operators of recoverable
reserves in existing fields. The petroleum industry is also becoming
more active in its search for gas."
http://www.specifiers.vectorgas.co.nz/naturalgas/industry.php#pop
I was amazed to see how some of the homes drained their water not into the sewer but back to the ground.(Toilet water is connected to the sewer). New Zealand has a lot of rain and it is good to recover some of the water. My sister in law has a rain recovery system but uses the water only for irrigation of plants.
@ShadesOfAnnie - Now that you live in Idaho I suppose you miss the rain in Washington?
You are definitely well informed in energy resourses..when we say natural gas, does that imply that there is such a thing as unatural gas ? i know this sounds like an impossible question but that is my level of understanding...i have an idea what gas is..i know at least it's not a vegetable. But i often come with the question in my mind..how long will that resourse lasts..certainly not for ever...and what will people do when nothing is left...
good
@PPhilip - There is to be more activity in prospecting over the next few years. This from yesterday's Herald - "Shell says the earliest it will consider drilling in the frontier deep water Great South Basin will be the summer of 2014-15.
The Government, which is putting much store on the potential for increasing trade receipts from the oil and gas sector, said last week it expected 27 oil wells would be drilled around the coast during the next five years.
Shell and Houston-based Anadarko are raising their public profiles, both holding Southern permits for drilling, emphasising their environmental and workplace safety credentials to a public increasingly nervous about dangers associated with deep-water drilling.
In mid-October, tenders close for 23 onshore and offshore oil and gas prospects around the country, including further blocks within the Great South Basin and in Southland."
I recall seeing a report last year some time that predicted that the east coast gas yield could be greater than Maui.
Offshore drilling in deep water does not excite me at all!!
I'm all for natural gas-I get a small check now from 6 wells on my property.
Fracking is bad news! No matter what, those concrete seals just won't hold indefinitely and that certainly puts the water at risk. That's just not ok. Concentrated solar thermal is a much better and safer energy solution!
Thanks for this information. Now i know a little more about this subject. I feel our politicians are handing out a lot of hot air not produced by fossil fuels.
frank
The Democrat Party hates fossil fuels. Like good Maoists they won't stop until we are all riding bicycles and electric golf carts.
interesting post well documented .
In france the electric energy comes from thhe nuclear in majority ( there are risks of course )
But for the cars:it is the diesel and gasoline ( imported ) .
The problem energetic consomption / ecology is very serious
In friendship
Michel
i had no idea that USA buys natural gas from indonesia. interesting.