Regina Hopper's Blog

Did you know the U.S. is now the world’s largest producer of natural gas? It seems this clean, abundant and American resource is all the buzz these days. From the Wall Street Journal saying natural gas will “rock our world,” to economists and educators joining the scientific consensus that it offers a solution for our nation’s low-emissions energy needs.

In recent history, the U.S. has produced much less of its energy at home, while relying on other countries to fill that void. But, as the Washington Post noted, a clean energy solution is literally “staring us in the face.” This vast and domestic supply of natural gas will be available for generations to come.

How did we get here? How did this dramatic change come about and what are the implications of our natural gas abundance today?  Take a look at the latest version of Nat Gas Now. And, let me know what you think on Twitter @reginahopper!

As an Arkansas native, I can attest that we know a good thing when we see it. When I first joined ANGA, I can’t tell you how many of my friends from back home called to wish me well-and ask about the exact location of the Fayetteville and Haynesville shales. Word was getting out about the economic benefits of this abundant local resource, and everyone was eager to participate in the opportunity.

Thanks to continuing enhancements in proven technology, we have been able to unlock unprecedented abundant supplies of previously inaccessible natural gas in shale rock formations deep below the earth’s surface. These plentiful, local supplies are found throughout the country, including in my home state of Arkansas, and they hold the key to new energy jobs, cleaner air and less dependence on foreign oil.

In 2008 alone natural gas development supported 30,000 Arkansas jobs (2.5% of total state employment) and $5.6 billion in economic contributions, according to IHS Global Insight. And these benefits are being felt all throughout the state – keeping restaurants busy, trucking firms hauling needed supplies, and bringing much-needed tax revenue to local government.

The product? Clean energy. We may not regularly think about where the power in our electrical outlets comes from, but when it comes from natural gas, it emits half the carbon dioxide of coal and puts over 80% less pollution into our air. Natural gas also is a critical partner to renewables, providing clean, reliable energy when the wind dies down or sun sets. And, natural gas is an appealing transportation fuel, cheaper and cleaner than traditional fuels-and able to power heavy trucks and buses.

This week, the film Gasland will have a handful of small screenings in Arkansas. I hope if you see it that you will also take the time to look at the documents of state and federal agencies that investigated the claims and found they have nothing to do with natural gas production. In the interest of equal time, I thought I’d share other local Arkansas voices who are speaking up about their first-hand experiences with our community:

“I have been thoroughly impressed by the responsible manner with which the natural gas industry operates in Arkansas. They work diligently to reduce environmental impact while producing a domestic energy source that is critical to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil.”

- Art Deller, Former Fairfield Bay City Councilman, Van Buren County

“I see the benefits from the gas industry as it employs people, gives us a clean energy source, and keeps money in America that would otherwise be sent to other peoples and countries.

- Bill Patton, Chief Operating Officer, First Southern Bank, White County

“It’s scary to imagine the state of our city, county or state economy if not for the natural gas industry. We don’t have a single member out of 1,400 who doesn’t benefit daily from the incredible investment this industry has made. Thousands of Arkansans are now working in an industry they had no prior knowledge of, making wages they had never imagined. For once, Arkansas is a destination for global investment. That investment impacts not only our business community but our schools and public services. Arkansas is playing a significant role in our country’s energy independence. It’s a historic and exciting opportunity.”

- Brad Lacy, President and CEO, Conway Area Chamber of Commerce

Thanks Art, Bill and Brad for sharing your experiences. The natural gas community is not only providing thriving economic opportunities, but also demonstrating its longstanding commitment to being good neighbors and responsible stewards of the land. I am proud to be a part of this community that is economically revitalizing my home state and helping Arkansas and America embrace the many benefits of our clean energy future.

I hope you will let me hear from you @reginahopper!

If you’re a follower of Nat Gas Now or energy headlines generally, you’ve hopefully heard that America has as much clean natural gas as Saudi Arabia has oil. It’s creating jobs. It can improve our environment. But only IF we increase our use of this abundant, domestic energy source. In my recent installment of Nat Gas Now, I look at the demand side of the equation-all the benefits that go along with greater use of nat gas for both clean power generation and transportation right here in the United States.

Greater use of clean natural gas means greater use of cleaner energy in our communities. Natural gas is twice as clean as coal, yet 45 percent of our nation’s energy is generated by coal-fired power plants compared to just 23 percent from natural gas. And natural gas plants are 39 percent more efficient than the oldest 50 percent of coal plants.

Greater use of domestic natural gas also means greater energy security for our nation. The U.S. continues to import more than 12 million barrels of foreign oil a day, much of it from unstable parts of the world. Nearly 8.5 million barrels are used for transportation. Companies like Verizon and AT&T are already fueling service vehicles with natural gas and many city trash trucks and buses are helping communities reap the clean air benefits, too.

And, greater use of American natural gas means more American jobs and economic opportunities. In Pennsylvania alone, where the vast Marcellus Shale has had a profoundly positive impact, natural gas could generate up to $8 billion in revenue growth and add 88,000 jobs in the state by the end of this year, according to Penn State University.

We have the opportunity to clean our air now. We can build our economy now. And we have enough natural gas to generate clean energy now and for future generations. We are the envy of the world for our natural abundance of natural gas. It’s time now to put it to greater use for all of us. Let me know what you think @reginahopper.

As our country looks for innovative ways to create jobs, advance clean air and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we need look no further than the vast domestic natural gas supplies right below our feet. Natural gas is found in abundance throughout our nation, and it is underutilized for clean power generation. This means we can take steps-right here and right now-to advance clean energy in our communities.

North America has enough natural gas from coast to coast to power our country for generations. Yet we don’t take full advantage of this clean abundant resource. While natural gas facilities make up the largest portion of the U.S. generating fleet, 45% of the nation’s electricity continues to be generated by coal-fired power plants, compared to just 23% from natural gas. This means we can start today to embrace cleaner energy and have an immediate, positive impact on our environment.

And, we don’t have to stop with how we get our power. Natural gas is not only clean, but versatile. Used as a transportation fuel, it is 25% cleaner than traditional gasoline or diesel. And, complementing electric vehicles, natural gas is able to power heavy-duty trucks, city buses and other large vehicles. How much of a difference can one change make? Converting just one sanitation truck to natural gas is the equivalent of removing 325 regular gas powered cars from the road.

Natural gas is abundant, clean, domestic and ready to play a growing role for our nation right now. Take a look at my new video and let me know what you think @reginahopper.

Natural gas has the power to “rock the world,” according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. We’ve got more of it right here in America than Saudi Arabia has oil – enough to literally power our nation for generations. Our country’s vast domestic abundance of this clean energy source is the topic of my latest installment of Nat Gas Now.

In our recent edition of our video series-focused on abundance, I look at why the time is right for natural gas to move to the front of our energy lineup. Countless opportunities have been made possible thanks to abundant shale gas located about a mile below the earth’s surface. The United States has massive shale plays spread throughout much of the country, which are chock full of clean natural gas. In fact, the giant Marcellus Shale has the potential to be the second largest gas field in the world.

Studies from prestigious energy research firms and universities have affirmed that this American Dream of clean, abundant, homegrown energy is a 2010 reality, with the help of shale gas. Penn State University has said that the Marcellus Shale alone has enough natural gas to economically transform the Northeast region of the country, while IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates has predicted that shale gas will make up 50% of U.S. natural gas supply in the next 25 years-up from just 20% today. Even Energy Secretary Steven Chu has said that the amount of natural gas available in the United States may be double what was previously believed.

Bottom line: Natural gas is a clean, domestic and abundant energy source that is ready to be put to greater use for our nation today. The only question left: Why wait? It’s time for nat gas now. Take a look at my video.  And, let me know what you think @reginahopper.

There are all kind of excuses for not having had a post here for quite a while. I could blame it on my new job, which would be true. Or, I could blame in on not being able to figure out how to advance the bandwidth capabilities of the blog, which would also be true. Or, I could blame it on the fact that I really wanted to change up the look and feel of the blog, which would also be true. So, I will choose all three. Anyway, I am finally back here late on a Friday night and finally saying, it must be done! So, over the course of the next few days, I am going to go back in time and post some of my favorite blogs from over the course of the last several months on the ANGA website. We have just released a new site there… I hope you will take a look at it and let us know what you think. I think it is a really cool use of new technology, social media and video while also following the KISS rule and just getting you the info you need.

Enough for the mea culpa… I will post… Let me know what you think either here or on Twitter @reginahopper.

More later when it isn’t so late!

Natural gas moved to the top of the hot list for 2010 today on CNBC’s Mad Money.  Jim Cramer named the clean, affordable, and efficient energy source as one of his top 10 investment themes in the New Year, featuring a conversation with Anadarko CEO Jim Hackett.  Cramer notes that natural gas has “a tremendous amount of value…just waiting to be unlocked,” value that can be seen in its environmental, economic and domestic security benefits.

Hackett calls natural gas “the only real answer until we develop other things.”  This domestic and abundant energy source will play a critical role in advancing America’s clean energy goals. Twice as clean as coal, natural gas not only can provide base-load, clean, low-carbon electricity, but it also is an essential partner to renewable energy sources, providing reliable backup when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.

What’s more, natural gas can advance our low-carbon future (and create more American jobs) while enhancing our energy security.  As Hackett says, we have a need for a “cleaner burning, domestically based fuel,” and natural gas provides this.  With more than 98% of the natural gas used in America coming from right here in North America, and new technologies and discoveries unlocking vast new supplies, natural gas can help reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources and dramatically boost the U.S. economy, all while reducing our carbon footprint.

Jobs.  Clean energy.  Less dependence on foreign oil.  Natural gas stands ready today to help lead our nation into the low-carbon future—and 2010 is shaping up to be a defining year for this clean, abundant, made-in-America opportunity.

Let me know what you think on Twitter @reginahopper. And, follow us on @anga.us!