Charging your phone, heating a cup of coffee, running a warm bath, and cooking a meal all have one thing in common: electricity. Have you ever stopped to think about how crucial electricity is in our daily lives or, more broadly, consider where it comes from?
Let’s start with the basics: what is electricity? Electricity is considered a secondary energy source, meaning it is generated from a primary energy source such as fossil fuels—including natural gas, petroleum, nuclear, coal, wind or solar. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), natural gas supplied a record-high 40% of U.S. net electricity generation used by Americans in 2020 for dependable heating, air conditioning, lighting, refrigeration, industrial production, and other essential power. Meanwhile, renewable and nuclear energy accounted for approximately 20% each.
Natural gas is projected by the U.S. Department of Energy to account for the majority of domestic energy consumption for decades to come. That’s because the United States has abundant deposits of natural gas, importing less than 4% of the total amount consumed annually, making it affordable and readily available. Domestic production also ensures America’s energy independence from unstable and sometimes unfriendly overseas sources. In addition, power grid infrastructure for natural gas is largely in place, whereas transitioning to an all-renewable system will require a big increase in wind, solar and storage construction projects along with the need for more large interstate transmission lines.
Even as America’s energy consumption continues to rise, increased use of clean-burning natural gas has greatly helped to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to their lowest levels in over 30 years. Since 2005, displacing coal with natural gas has prevented over 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere. Natural Gas is also a critical partner in the development and operation of renewable energy sources.
America’s vast system of underground pipelines connects this abundant supply of natural gas to power plants that supply our electricity grids. The ability of our pipeline network to quickly and affordably deliver these resources to market aids in keeping America’s energy costs down. Pipelines also replace more carbon-intensive transport methods such as truck and rail, making them the greenest way to move energy supplies and reducing congestion on our roads.
The abundance of natural gas will continue to support our energy needs into the future as our nation’s mix of energy resources continue to evolve. From powering manufacturing and transporting renewable energy materials, to supporting our energy independence and stability, natural gas supports America’s clean energy future.
