The growing use of natural gas is among the most important recent developments in America's energy picture. In the following Issue Brief, Adam Serchuk and Bob Means address implications of this trend for renewable energy, both in the United States and globally. The paper provides a valuable resource for environmental and energy professionals seeking to understand the complex relationship between the two cleanest energy options now available. Even in the United States, where the resource base is well known, new sources of gas are being discovered.
Potential discoveries are even greater elsewhere.
The supply of gas is finite but, for the time being, fears of depletion will not drive policy. Increased natural gas use is both a boon and a bane to the renewables industry. On the plus side, natural gas is inherently cleaner than coal or oil, and the gas sector is a significant potential ally in the effort to achieve environmental goals. For example, both industries are well represented in the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, an important voice for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since renewables will be unable to meet most energy needs for some time, gas is an essential bridge to a renewable energy era.