According to economist William Ellard, natural gas is one of the most undervalued forms of energy, boasting a much cleaner emissions record than coal and petroleum, and costing approximately half of a barrel of oil. Though he mentions the excitement and buzz surrounding the development of solar, biodiesel and other renewables, going away from what he calls "digging in the dirt" to produce energy and utilizing renewables is something he believes that the United States just isn't ready for.Many would agree that the infrastructure for mass-production of renewable energy is a ways away, and some say it will take 5-10 years to transition away from fossil fuels. Unfortunately, no one can place an accurate time line on the development of an operational clean energy grid. Pending legislation that provides initiative and funding for large-scale renewable projects, low-cost energy will have to come from a source with substantial supply, domestic production and an infrastructure already in place to distribute wide spread. Enter natural gas.
If natural gas companies can find a way to bridge the gap between the actual cost of natural gas and the price of storage and transportation, then natural gas could very well be the alternative energy that provides a clean, more economic means for Americans to power their lives.
For more information, see William Ellard's blog entry on Seeking Alpha.
