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Article: Untapped resource: natural gas: safer cleaner energy that pays for itself.(VIEWPOINT)
- Article from:
- National Defense
- Article date:
- May 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 National Defense Industrial Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Unlike renewable energy sources, natural gas is a proven fuel with mature associated technologies. And it has a cost advantage over other forms of energy such as wind, solar and geothermal. Along with clean coal, natural gas is perhaps the most practical energy option for the United States to decrease its dependence on foreign oil and reduce its vulnerability to outside threats.
Natural gas is methane, which is what remains after gases extracted from underground are refined and others such as butane and propane are removed. Natural gas occurs geologically either with crude oil or by itself. While Russia has the world's largest reserves, North America is not far ...