About Natural Gas
The United States has vast deposits of natural gas, enough to last several generations even without any of the massive technological breakthroughs that have regularly occurred in the natural gas industry throughout history. Its abundance, combined with its low-emissions and reliability, make natural gas an affordable and low-carbon energy choice for today’s consumers. Natural gas is colorless, shapeless, and odorless in its pure form. It can be measured by volume in cubic feet or by its energy output in British thermal units (Btu). Natural gas is energy-rich: just one cubic foot of natural gas contains 1,027 Btus — enough to heat 120 gallons of water by one degree.
Uses and Benefits
The U.S. has vast reserves of natural gas. That abundance, combined with its low-emissions and reliability, make natural gas a building block of the clean energy future and an affordable, low-carbon energy choice for consumers at home and across the globe.
- By homes for heating and cooking;
- By industry for manufacturing essential products as varied as steel, medical equipment and fertilizer;
- By businesses for heat, power and dehumidification;
- By trucks, buses and cars for clean fuel;
- By power producers to generate reliable electricity with low emissions.
In addition to the numerous uses for natural gas, LNG in its liquid form can be use in the marine and mining spaces as fuel. Learn more here.
Economic Impact
The abundance of clean-burning natural gas in the United States is a source of tremendous economic benefits for our country, directly supporting many thousands of jobs and improving household disposable income, as well as contributing to state and local revenues that support schools and transportation and jobs training programs. Because of its low-cost and abundance, natural gas offers the promise of a clean energy future that is affordable and accessible to all incomes and communities.
Read our full Q&A: 2023-2024 Natural Gas Market Conditions and LNG factsheet. To learn more about the natural gas market this winter, check out NGSA’s 21st annual Winter Outlook examining the five factors driving the natural gas market this winter, the economy, weather, demand, supply, and storage. Additionally, Dena Wiggins recently joined the Energy Solutions podcast to discuss the natural gas market this winter.
Partnering with Renewables
As leaders in the natural gas industry, we support the growth of renewables and the development of innovative and advanced technology solutions that will reduce or eliminate carbon emissions entirely in the future. Natural gas and renewable energy work together throughout the day to provide reliable energy to consumers, with natural gas seamlessly stepping in when the wind dies down or it is cloudy.
- Natural gas-fired power plants typically have the ability to ramp up rapidly when needed and have low emissions.
- Natural gas has been a primary driver of reducing U.S. emissions and has enabled ever-greater levels of renewables to be reliably integrated into the power grid.
The reliability of natural gas is essential to achieving our nation’s climate goals and, because of the abundance and affordability of natural gas, we are fueling the transition for everyone.
By 2050, natural gas and renewable energy together will generate about 76 percent of all U.S. electricity, according to the Energy Information Administration. NGSA supports the ambition of achieving economy-wide net zero GHG emissions by 2050, consistent with our support for the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Natural Gas Outlook
The long-term view of natural gas that it will be an essential partner to the clean energy future because of its environmental qualities, reliability and economic impact and because of its vast abundance in the United States. The U.S. Energy Information’s forecast to 2050 proves out this view.
SUMMER Outlook
WINTER Outlook
Innovation in Action
As leaders in the natural gas industry, we are committed to developing innovative solutions for a cleaner world. It is a goal that we take seriously as we work together to craft smarter and more sustainable energy solutions. Learn more about NGSA member actions in our blog post as well as our graphic Reaching Climate Goals with Natural Gas.
Our members are working systematically to identify where we can have maximum impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
We are proud that the increased use of natural gas has already helped bring carbon emissions to the lowest levels in decades. We embrace the role of natural gas in empowering renewables and support their growth.
NGSA supports the ambition of achieving economy-wide net zero GHG emissions by 2050, consistent with our support for the goals of the Paris Agreement.