The Hill: Study: Fracked gas far more climate-friendly than coal
Natural gas produced in the northeast's booming Marcellus shale region leads to far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal, a competing source of electric power, according to a new study by Exxon Mobil’s research arm.
“We conclude that substantial [greenhouse gas] reductions and freshwater savings may result from the replacement of coal-fired power generation with gas-fired power generation,” states the study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
The findings will bolster natural gas advocates’ contention that increasing use of gas – which has been growing as a power source at coal’s expense – is an important way to curb U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.