A Century & Beyond

Today, the outlook for natural gas is bright. The deregulations of the industry have had many positive impacts on price and supply of natural gas, and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 have increased the demand for cleaner fuel sources in electric generation, industry, and transportation.

Emerging technologies have created new applications for natural gas, like natural gas vehicles, fuel cells, and new super-efficient boilers for electric generation that will move into the mainstream in the near future. In addition, natural gas's outstanding environmental record, as well as its cost, availability and efficiency, will make it a superior fuel for the near and distant future.

The adversity the electric utility industry suffered in the 1990's in California and other parts of America has accelerated the development of natural gas as a clean alternative to coal and oil. California's problems stemmed in part from the decision not to build additional fossil-fueled power plants during the last decade. Coal and oil do not burn cleanly. Coal and industrial fuel oil combustion also produces ash particles, which do not burn at all; however, they can be carried into the atmosphere. Remember the word "smog" was coined in the Los Angeles basin.

These pollution issues still being discussed today are acid rain and carbon monoxide/ozone pollution levels.

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