a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, but commonly including varying amounts of other higher alkanes, and sometimes a small percentage of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, or helium.
Pros
Burns relatively clean; can be used to generate electricity 24/7/365
Cons
Hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") is linked to ground and surface water contamination and an increase in seismic activity including earthquakes as well as leaks of methane—a GHG 84x more potent than carbon dioxide.
Real Talk
Natural gas is needed today to keep the lights on. Its flexible application for electrical generation should be leveraged as a "bridge" to renewable energy by enabling a market shift from fossil fuel.
