Natural gas is abundant, clean, and ready to contribute in an affordable manner to our short and long-term power generation needs. Given these factors, a credible clean energy policy should lead to a greater reliance on the use of this domestic resource. In fact, a number of current factors are already driving our energy portfolio to cleaner choices. For example, a number of states have renewable electricity standards in place; there are federal and state tax incentives for renewables; more utilities are looking to utilize natural gas as confidence in availability and price stability due to the massive resource base increases; and EPA is moving forward on a number of non-GHG regulations that will likely cause the retirement of inefficient and older coal plants and their replacement with cleaner natural gas power plants.
If Congress decides to pursue a CES and can resolve the inherent complex design issues, INGAA maintains that natural gas must be included in a meaningful way as an eligible clean energy source. If Congress decides to pursue a CES, INGAA emphasizes that such a proposal must not undermine the natural gas value chain. Further, based on current technologies and future deployment costs, INGAA maintains that in order for a CES to serve as a credible clean energy policy, it must result in a better than “business as usual” scenario for natural gas. This submission by INGAA should not be interpreted as an endorsement of a federal power mandate like a CES.
Related
Exploring Real-Life Challenges with Ensuring Natural Gas Availability for Power and Joint Industry Suggested Mitigation Strategies INGAA Comments on FERC NOPR on Cybersecurity Incentives for Electric Utilities INGAA Incident Reporting Comments INGAA API Petition for Consideration of Gas Transmission Final Rule
