NYT: Natural Gas: Big Worry This Winter

[DeepModem Mom]

Natural Gas: Big Worry This Winter
By SIMON ROMERO
Published: November 15, 2005


HOUSTON, Nov. 14 - Unexpectedly warm weather has bathed much of the United States in recent weeks, but fears persist that a classic energy shock may be unfolding as the nation heads into winter.

This time, though, the coming squeeze is in natural gas rather than oil.

Executives at companies that consume large amounts of natural gas are warning - almost screaming - about the costs they expect to face over the coming months....

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Thanks to a huge buildup of natural-gas-fired electricity plants in the 1990's even as exploration has slowed, demand has outstripped supply; the nation now depends on natural gas for 24 percent of its energy requirements, compared with 23 percent for coal and 40 percent for oil.

The threat of higher prices and potential shortages has led to a showdown over the most ambitious push to expand domestic drilling since the 1970's. The energy industry and major consumers of natural gas have been aggressively pushing Congress to open areas for exploration....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/15/business/15natgas.html