The supply issue appears to be just a short-term problem. Accessible gas reserves underground could meet 75 years of demand. The National Petroleum Council estimates there's 300 trillion cubic feet in the Rocky Mountains alone. But that gas isn't in the pipeline yet. And some reserves are off- limits, due to environmental concerns about groundwater contamination and the effect of wells, roads, and power lines on animal habitat.
Producers complain environmental regulations are slowing access to needed gas.
We have gotten a lot of concerns raised by the environmental community. However, they are unsubstantiated with facts. Even with gas flowing again, a return to previous low prices is unlikely. Prices are likely to be fueled by the need to invest in the nation's pipeline capacity. Though there are thousands of lines, bottlenecks in the system have aggravated supply problems this winter, and make it difficult to get gas to the Midwest and West Coast.