Global climate change is an important issue, and the American Energy Coalition wants to help you make the right choices to preserve the Earth and its environment. Natural gas portrays itself as a friend of the environment and avoids talking about its two big environmental problems: "fugitive emissions" of raw methane; and increasing use of liquefied natural gas (LNG). We're here to help you see past the propaganda and understand the true nature of Oilheat and natural gas.

Emissions

Natural Gas: To understand natural gas emissions fully, you have to account for methane , which is a greenhouse gas with 72 times the Global Warming Potential of carbon dioxide.* Natural gas is 95% methane. There are 2 million miles of pipeline to distribute natural gas in the United States with many ongoing leaks that spew raw methane into the environment and aggravate global warming. Natural gas also generates carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gas, while it is being burned.
* On a 20-year time horizon

Oilheat: Oilheat distribution does not contribute significantly to climate change. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, crude oil transportation activities account for less than one half of one percent of total methane emissions from the oil industry, and carbon dioxide emissions from transportation operations are negligible.

Conclusion: Oilheat is the better choice, because Oilheat emissions occur only during combustion, while natural gas creates substantial emissions during two phases of operation: distribution and combustion.

Fuels

Natural Gas: Life-cycle emissions for natural gas increase as more liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used, because LNG generates more emissions than domestic gas. LNG is expected to make up 22% of the U.S. supply in 2020 - up from 3% in 2003, according to the American Gas Association.

Oilheat: Oilheat emissions decrease when Oilheat is blended with biofuel. Biofuel use is increasing, and one U.S. state (Massachusetts) will start requiring the use of biofuel/Oilheat blends in 2010. Oilheat is also moving to reduced-sulfur blends that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Conclusion: Natural gas is getting dirtier. Oilheat is getting cleaner.