4 unappreciated truths about natural gas

Natural gas is an egregiously underappreciated resource. And (in the opinion of this particular Cleveland-based attorney) it shares a lot of similarities with NBA star LeBron James. If you don’t see the correlation at first, let me explain:

1. Versatility. Natural gas is cheaper per BTU than any nonrenewable fuel (except for coal), it’s the cleanest fossil fuel, it can be used to generate baseload electricity, and it is now incredibly abundant. (LeBron James is equally versatile, able to play offensively in all five positions on the basketball court and defend from all five positions as well.)
2. Value proposition. Natural gas provides clean baseload energy at inexpensive prices. Beyond that reality, the natural gas industry is leading the economic recovery in the U.S. and is bringing the U.S. to energy independence, thus ending the geopolitical risks that have existed due to OPEC dependence. (As the second highest paid player in the NBA, not enough can be said about LeBron James’ economic impact on Northeast Ohio, the city of Cleveland in particular.)
3. Winners. Natural gas is still in the early innings of its rise to dominance but it is the first fuel that is available on demand, substantially lowers our carbon footprint, is historically cheap, and as a feedstock it can provide decades of economic. Natural gas has also become the number one fuel for BOTH heating and electric generation. (Still in his prime, LeBron James has already led his teams to seven straight NBA championships and three titles.)
4. More appreciated when it’s gone. Some might say that natural gas will be with us indefinitely – there is at least a 100-year supply. Residents of New York or Massachusetts, where natural gas and electricity costs can be double the cost in the Midwest, are missing the opportunity to take advantage of this resource. Elected officials in these states block not only drilling but also pipeline construction to bring cheaper natural gas from Appalachia to the Northeast, opting instead to burn dirty fuel oil for their electricity and pay a premium for their heating. (LeBron James has already left Cleveland once, and it wasn’t until he had taken his talents to South Beach that this city fully understood or appreciated his impact.)