Natural gas is a nonrenewable source of energy that is formed of the fossils of prehistoric organisms. It is one of the three fossil fuels found on Earth, which includes oil and coal and is the cleanest of the fossil fuels. Natural gas provides about fifty-eight percent of the world’s energy—although it is not the cleanest form of energy on the planet. Burning gas emits less carbon than burning oil and coal. However, there are many drawbacks to using natural gas. Fracking is a serious issue that not only causes environmental problems, but also health complications in many people. Using natural gas as energy can be extremely helpful with lowering the chances of climate change, but the risk is large and severe.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking,
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3). The somewhat lax rules and the constant fracking can and will most likely be a detriment to people’s lifestyle and well being, and the environment as a whole; contaminating freshwater lowers the percentage of available freshwater.
There are some pros to using natural gas for energy rather than oil and coal. Burning natural gas releases far less carbon dioxide than its counterparts (Raven, Peter, et al. 219). Natural gas produces one-hundred and seventy thousand pounds of air emissions per every billion British thermal unit of energy. It has “fewer impurities, [and] is less chemically complex.” Ninety percent of natural gas produced is “delivered to customers as useful energy.” Natural gas is also used in lightweight cars, the blades on wind turbines, and solar panels (Environmental).
Even with all the great uses of natural gas, there is an uneven spread of natural gas reserves in the world. Most of it is found in Russia and Iran. And, according Dorling Kindersley Limited, in the future, more natural gas will come from “unconventional sources.” Extracting is more difficult and less economical than normal. The gas does have the same uses as gas from “conventional” wells, such as heating, cooking, transportation, and generating electricity (Oil