Natural gas as a neglected middle child

Lower emissions and a cleaner supply

Since 2001, natural gas has become a massive part of keeping the lights on in the United States. 

The EIA has a great graphic showing the side-by-side comparison of generation changes and emissions changes.

Source: EIA, 2021.

Gas is also often a great enabler of variable renewable sources. It's often a more nimble generator—better able to flex in the winds and the sun. Of course, natural gas will have to compete more and more with storage.

Natural gas may not make your list of obvious environmental allies. But maybe it should. It is certainly the neglected middle child of recent environmental progress.