The industrial sector accounts for about one-third of U.S. natural gas consumption.

Manufacturers use natural gas as:

  • Fuel to manufacture products such as paper, glass, bricks, steel and iron
  • Raw input material to produce substances such as hydrogen for clean energy
  • Essential building block of fertilizer and widely-used petrochemical products including cosmetics, medicine, synthetic fibers and plastics
  • Raw input material for medical products like intravenous lines and bags, gloves, masks and catheters
  • Space and water heating, firing, dehumidifying and other treatments used in product manufacturing
  • Component in making acrylic lenses to improve vision for those suffering from cataracts;
  • Combined Heat and Power (CHP) a highly efficient process that captures excess heat and steam generated during the manufacturing process and feeds it back into the system. CHP lowers emissions and costs.

U.S. NATURAL GAS GIVE MANUFACTURERS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

The abundance, affordability and low emissions of natural gas in the United States gives U.S. energy-intensive manufacturers an advantage over their international competitors. For example, access and proximity to this plentiful energy resource has made the U.S. the place to be for petrochemical and plastics manufacturers.  The U.S. Energy Information Administration has projected natural gas prices to remain low through 2050.