Natural Gas
Natural gas is a mixture of gases consisting of 50-90% methane and smaller amounts of gaseous hydrocarbons like ethane, propane and butane as well as highly toxic hydrogen sulfide. It lies above reservoirs of crude oil. However in order to use it, there must be a natural gas pipeline built. It is a versatile fuel that can be burned to heat space and water or produce electricity and to propel vehicles with fairly affordable engine modifications. Natural gas plays a key role in low-carbon transition and improvement of air quality around the world.
ADVANTAGES |
DISADVANTAGES |
Burns cleanly, no unpleasant soot, ash, or odors are left behind (environmental) |
Natural gas is highly flammable (environmental) |
Eliminates worry about spills or corrosion of the tank (environmental) |
It is nonrenewable (environmental) |
Natural gas is a non-toxic, not harmful if inhaled (environmental) |
Possibility of methane emission (environmental) |
No unsightly storage tank to clutter the appearance of the property (environmental) |
Creating and managing the pipeline to transport natural gas is costly (economic) |
Eliminates the need for an underground storage tank (environmental) |
It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making finding hazardous leaks very difficult (environmental) |