Over the last decade, the United States has become an energy exporter and working towards their goal of becoming energy independent. LNG, also known as liquified natural gas, requires the drilling in shale gas fields across the country. LNG is used to transport natural gas to markets, and redistributed as a pipeline natural gas. Mexico is an example of how gas can transform a country in a short amount of time. They decided to import as much cheap gas as possible, while having a quarter of their country’s electricity powered by American gas. The country’s gas imports improved air quality, reducing Mexico’s carbon footprint. Europeans are hesitant on hydrocarbons like gas and much prefer renewable sources. As China’s and India’s middle classes grow and become more powerful, their demand for LNG will increase. LNG importers are growing rapidly, as it has tripled within the last twelve years. Environmentalists say that gas is the only useful bridge to renewables. They hope that in the near future, gas will replace coal but also partner with renewables as well.

As much as LNG is growing in popularity, it requires a lot of work for it to be imported. LNG is expensive to ship overseas because, to be contained in the tanks, it needs to be cooled down to -260 degrees. The country importing it needs to turn the liquid back into gas before distributing it. The extraction is not a clean process either as harmful chemicals can leak out. Land is needed for LNG which means that the wildlife surrounding it will suffer and deteriorate. Nearby water can be contaminated with dangerous chemicals and there is a potential for a low seismic earthquake to occur around the area too. Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel but it does not eliminate all the air pollution that still goes on. A step in the right direction would be a gradual change from fossil fuels to renewable resources.

Krauss, Clifford. “Boom in American Liquified Natural Gas Is Shaking Up the Energy World.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 Oct. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/business/energy-environment/liquified-natural-gas-world-markets.html.

– Jessica Jiang