Experts Report a 39 Percent Increase in America’s Natural Gas Estimates Since 2006
Washington, DC –The American Gas Association (AGA) today held a press conference with the Potential Gas Committee (PGC) to release its year-end 2008 biennial report: Potential Supply of Natural Gas in the United States. The assessment found that the United States possesses a total natural gas resource base of 1,836 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) and a total available future supply of 2,074 Tcf—the highest resources evaluation in the PGC’s 44-year history, equaling about 100 years of supply. Americans consume an average of 22 Tcf per year.
“This report drives home the fact that domestic supplies of clean-burning natural gas are very abundant,” said David Parker, president and CEO of AGA. “As Congress debates climate change and energy legislation, it should heed the report’s findings and understand that natural gas can and should be used in a multitude of applications now and in the future to reduce harmful greenhouse gases.”
Despite a 70 percent increase in households using natural gas during the past three decades, there has been virtually no growth in emissions in this sector. Natural gas customers continue to reduce household consumption and carbon emissions dramatically by using energy wisely, weatherizing their homes, using energy-efficient appliances and installing programmable thermostats.
“Clean-burning, domestic natural gas currently meets 25 percent of the nation’s energy needs. And as we move toward a more efficient, low-carbon future, natural gas will play an increasingly larger role,” Parker said. “Smart, forward thinking policies made today will help ensure Americans can cleanly run their homes and power their way of life for hundreds of years to come.”
According to the PGC, domestic natural gas reserves and estimates of undiscovered resources have grown significantly, in great part due to the emergence of technologies that are able to unlock newly discovered reserves such as natural gas from shale in the Appalachian basin, as well as in the Mid-Continent, Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain areas.
“We applaud the work of the PGC and its highly credentialed members for shining a credible spotlight on the staggering amount of natural gas that exists here in our own country,” said Parker. “AGA is confident that this report will serve as further evidence to our legislators and policymakers that we can effectively address climate change concerns now and in the future by relying on the one fuel that is both clean burning and domestically abundant, natural gas.”
The PGC is an incorporated nonprofit organization supported by the Colorado School of Mines, comprising experienced volunteers who work in the natural gas exploration, production and transportation industries. The committee also receives input from various observers in academia and government agencies.
To view the PGC’s press release with more detailed information, click here.
To view the PGC’s accompanying slideshow presentation, click here.
To watch a video of the event, please visit AGA’s blog, True Blue Natural Gas.