America’s future depends on domestic energy

There’s nothing new about domestic natural gas. Already, 98 percent of our natural gas is developed here. The big news is the abundance of this domestic fuel that lies only a few miles below American soil and it is ready to go today, thanks to Advanced Recovery Techniques (ART), also called hydraulic fracturing.

ART is a proven and safe technique for accessing natural gas from underground shale deposits. There is no scientific evidence that accessing natural gas through Advanced Recovery Techniques does or can affect our drinking water. In fact, many studies, combined with decades of experience, have found that this technology, which has been used for more than 60 years, is perfectly safe. More studies are now being conducted, and if these studies develop some heretofore unknown risk, we should address these risks in a responsible manner. But some nay-sayers won’t accept studies or facts; they are busy proclaiming danger where none is known to exist. Regardless of what we call it, the science shows that accessing our gas reserves that lie trapped thousands of feet below the earth’s surface, is a safe, reliable and economically feasible way to enhance America’s energy security.  

There are always those who fear progress. The horse and buggy people feared the train. The candle people feared the light bulb. Everyone seems to have feared the airplane. And so it goes. Fear of the unknown is normal and even somewhat rational, but exploiting those fears in the face of solid evidence of safety should cause each of us to pause. We cannot afford to let misleading fear mongering guide our national policy debates. 

Expanding our use of, and applications for, domestically produced natural gas is good for America. This expanded production and use will go a long way to reduce our foreign oil dependence now standing at a crippling 10 million barrels of oil a day. Imagine a U.S. where clean, domestic natural gas not only heats homes, powers stoves and generates electricity, but also fuels trucks and supplies the foundation needs for food growth, medicine production and numerous other foreign-oil-dependent applications. 

Natural gas is abundant, available, and good for the environment. Using natural gas produces significantly fewer emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful pollutants than other fuels, and burning natural gas produces no mercury. Moreover, construction of natural gas power plants is faster and cheaper than construction of other types of power plants. Through greater efficiencies and lower operation costs, this results in better value for consumers.

From almost any standpoint, expanding natural gas production and use makes sense. Currently, the natural gas industry contributes $385 billion annually to the U.S. economy, and supplies more than 2.8 million American jobs. As we expand our use of natural gas, the domestic production this abundant, clean, American energy will create even more new jobs and opportunities for American industry.

We can secure America’s energy future, enhance America’s national security and make America more competitive. And, yes, we can break the chains of oil cartels that dictate how we power America. But we cannot wait. Just as a sapling does not grow into a mighty oak overnight, neither can we become secure from the dictates of foreign oil ministers overnight. 

Our policy makers need to act now to secure America’s energy future. They need to develop policies that encourage investing in natural gas technology and production.

Let’s not miss this chance to secure our country’s energy future with natural gas. 

Bud Albright is the senior vice president of Policy and Government Affairs for CenterPoint Energy.