‘Clean-ER’ yes … ‘Clean’ no.
The good news is that the combustion of natural gas produces smaller quantities of sulfur, mercury, and particulates when compared to coal. Also, while burning natural gas does produce nitrogen oxides (NOx), unhealthful to humans and animals, and precursors to SMOG, these are at lower levels than gasoline and diesel used for motor vehicles
However, while burning natural gas is preferred to coal or heavy oils, this does not mean burning this fossil fuel is without hazard.
Burning natural gas still releases 60% of the CO2 (vs. Coal) for the equivalent amount of electricity generated.
Furthermore, the EPA’s most recent U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows that the oil and gas industry leaked or released approximately 8.4 million metric tonnes of methane in 2011. This is comparable to the carbon dioxide emissions of at least 60 coal-fired power plants.
In fact, the raw natural gas itself, or products of combustion of natural gas, are known to be hazardous to human health by:
- Triggering a dozen different types of cancers in humans and animals.
- Increasing the frequency / severity of heart disease & stroke.
- Promoting chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD.
- Creating severe environmental pollution wherever it is extracted.
- Heavily contributing to Global Climate Change through the production / release of carbon dioxide and other gases.
Finally, a word from Greenpeace.org:
“Some methane gas proponents say that gas is a boon to the climate because it is less carbon polluting than coal. This is a false choice between two bad options that ignores the environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy like wind and solar. Even proponents admit that gas is only better than coal if less than 3.4% of the methane escapes unburned into the atmosphere.”
