In a press release by the US Department of Energy, two officials have labeled natural gas as “freedom gas” and “molecules of US freedom.”
Of course, this statement has political implications, which makes it harder to analyze objectively, but this apparent attempt at rebranding natural gas does suggest several things about both natural gas and the US energy sector.
The press release from Tuesday has sparked fierce debate over America’s energy future, at a time where the energy sector is going through some big changes. The announcement by the Department of Energy came amid their approval of additional exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in Texas by Freeport LNG. “Increasing export capacity from the Freeport LNG project is critical to spreading freedom gas throughout the world by giving America’s allies a diverse and affordable source of clean energy,” said Mark W. Menezes, the under secretary of energy.
While it’s not fully clear what the Department of Energy officials mean by “freedom gas,” the last few years have certainly been big ones for American natural gas. This wouldn’t be the first time that the Department of Energy has equated natural gas to freedom, either. They may perhaps be referring to Europe’s reliance on energy imports from countries that are not functioning democracies. Regardless, natural gas is on the rise, and controversy is not new in politics.
From a business perspective, natural gas is broadly considered a better alternative to other fossil fuels. Natural gas is a reliable source of heating, even when the power goes out. Natural gas is a cheap and generally great way to provide heating, and it is highly efficient. Less natural gas goes to waste than other forms of energy, saving companies and consumers money.
From an environmental perspective, natural gas is not a green source of energy, but it is the cleanest of the fossil fuels. While renewable (green) sources like solar are obviously ideal for the environment, natural gas is significantly better than other commonly used fossil fuel, particularly coal, and natural gas appliances can be up to 98% efficient.
