A New York Time's article entitled "Natural Gas Hits a Roadblock in New Energy Bill" discusses how natural gas producers have been outflanked by coal producers and coal-fired utilities in obtaining special treatment and incentives in climate and energy bills so far this year in Congress. Congress and some environmental groups favor coal and carbon capture and storage over the use of natural gas to replace some coal use to produce electricity.
Natural gas producers are attempting to lobby the Senate for a better deal. The trouble may be that the Democratic majority needs coal-state Democrats to vote for a climate bill and the natural gas state Repulicans have all but said they would not vote for any climate bill. Thus, the natural gas states may have few bargaining chips in the climate-energy horse-trading that will go on over the next few months in the Senate.
Natural gas could provide a very beneficial role in both producing electricity and powering vehicles. More needs to be done in Congress to support expanded natural gas use.
