Not only is scarce capital required, but the infrastructure so created is single purpose. Coal and petroleum products can use existing infrastructure and waterways, and any special infrastructure built to deliver coal or oil lends itself to other uses. In the industrialized countries, where the gas infrastructure has been put in place, the prospects for expanded use of natural gas are brighter, particularly where there is still oil to be backed out of household or industrial use. Part of the reason for the relative paucity of new plants is the bias against new plants expressed both in the new source performance standards and the problems of siting any plant whether coal or gas fired. Despite the problems with nuclear and hydro power or with natural gas, there is promise of a lower carbon trajectory because of changes in the conventional energy mix.
Natural gas is no longer the scarce, premium fuel that is too valuable to be burned in a boiler.
As its resource availability continues to expand, we can expect its price to become increasingly attractive relative to coal and petroleum and its share to expand. The third supply side option for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions is new technology. This is always a favorite solution, particularly when the problem is insoluble. The question is whether reliance on new technology is more than just a cop-out. I believe that there is something more to this option, but we must be careful about what we mean.