Natural Gas: Bridge or Wall in Transition to Low-Carbon Economy?

摘要

Natural gas as a power plant fuel has already played an important role in a transition to a low-carbon economy. Electricity-sector carbon dioxide emissions in many US states are at some of the lowest levels in the past two decades thanks to a variety of factors, including increased efficiency, deployment of renew-ables, and structural changes in the electricity sector, such as a transition from coal to natural gas-fueled power generation. This article focuses on the role natural gas has played in CO2 reductions on the one hand, and the role it will continue to play on the other. Experience over the past two decades shows that natural gas enables a transition away from higher-emitting coal power plants, and looking forward, natural gas can help to integrate variable energy resources such as solar and wind within a smaller fossil-fuel footprint than today.