Natural Gas Benefits and Considerations

Whether produced via conventional or renewable methods, the advantages of natural gas as an alternative fuel include its domestic availability, established distribution network, relatively low cost, and emissions benefits.

Renewable natural gas (RNG) and conventional natural gas must be compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG) for use in vehicles. Like any alternative fuel, there are some considerations to take into account when contemplating the use of natural gas.

Energy Security

The United States became a net exporter of petroleum in 2020 with exports surpassing imports, although imports of 8.47 million barrels per day in 2021 remained an important part of balancing supply and demand for domestic and international markets. Overall the transportation sector accounts for about 30% of total U.S. energy needs and 70% of U.S. petroleum consumption. Using natural gas and other alternative fuels and advanced technologies to reduce petroleum consumption continues to strengthen national security and reduce transportation energy costs for businesses and consumers.

Vehicle Performance

Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are similar to gasoline or diesel vehicles with regard to power, acceleration, and cruising speed. The driving range of NGVs is generally less than that of comparable gasoline and diesel vehicles because, with natural gas, less overall energy content can be stored in the same size tank. Extra natural gas storage tanks or the use of LNG can help increase range for larger vehicles.

In heavy-duty vehicles, dual-fuel, compression-ignited engines are slightly more fuel-efficient than spark-ignited dedicated natural gas engines. However, a dual-fuel engine increases the complexity of the fuel-storage system by requiring storage of both types of fuel and the integration of diesel aftertreatment devices.

Lower Emissions

All new vehicles are equipped with effective emission control systems and must meet the same emissions standards, regardless of fuel type. Consequently, tailpipe emissions from natural gas vehicles are comparable to those of gasoline and diesel vehicles when all are equipped with modern emissions controls. According to Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model, light-duty vehicles running on conventional natural gas can provide small to moderate GHG emissions reductions and reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by 15% (reductions are more substantial for vehicles running on RNG). In addition, because CNG fuel systems are completely sealed, the vehicles produce no evaporative emissions.

Natural gas produced via renewable methods offers additional benefits. RNG is essentially biogas—the gaseous product of the decomposition of organic matter—that has been processed to purity standards. Capturing biogas from landfills and livestock operations reduces emissions by preventing methane release into the atmosphere. Methane is 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Additionally, producing biogas through anaerobic digestion reduces odors and produces nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer.

Infrastructure and Vehicle Availability

A variety of new, heavy-duty natural gas vehicles are available from U.S. original equipment manufacturers. For availability, see the Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Search.

Fleets and consumers also have the option of reliably converting existing gasoline or diesel vehicles for natural gas operation using qualified system retrofitters. Qualified system retrofitters can economically, safely, and reliably convert many vehicles for natural gas operation. It is critical that all vehicle and engine conversions meet the emissions and safety regulations and standards instituted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Fire Protection Agency's NFPA 52 Vehicular Natural Gas Fuel Systems Code, CSA Group's CSA/ANSI NGV 6.1 code, and state agencies like the California Air Resources Board.

Although the United States has an extensive natural gas distribution system in place, vehicle fueling infrastructure is limited. For this reason, many fleets choose to install their own natural gas fueling infrastructure, which can be costly, or partner with other fleets to establish shared infrastructure. Partnering on infrastructure this way has many benefits, such as reduced payback period and higher throughput, which often translates to lower fuel costs.

Almost a decade since its first permitting proposal was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) is set to be completed by the end of 2023. Originating in West Virginia, this pipeline will transport natural gas from the Marcellus shale formation to customers in Virginia. The MVP demonstrates the potential merits of further developing the Nation’s natural gas pipeline network. Here are some key points the American people should know about this important new project:

Approval of the MVP:

• The pipeline’s approval was made possible by part of the June 2023 debt ceiling agreement, which exempted the project from further judicial review.
  • This regulatory respite follows years of delays and lawsuits due to the overly bureaucratic and burdensome nature of the federal energy permitting process.
• Because of these delays, the projected costs for the MVP nearly doubled from an original projection of $3 billion to more than $6 billion.

Economic Growth from the MVP:

• The project is expected to employ more than 2,500 workers.
• Construction will provide $131 million in tax revenues to Virginia and West Virginia.
• The MVP will provide an additional $45 million in annual tax revenue to Virginia and West Virginia.

Energy Stability from the MVP:

• The MVP will have a delivery capacity of 2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, approximately one-third of marketed natural gas produced in West Virginia.
• The additional delivery capacity from the MVP would ensure that West Virginia can adequately deliver the natural gas necessary to ensure energy stability throughout the east coast and broader Appalachia region.

The Need for Further Natural Gas Pipelines:

• The MVP illustrates the benefits and dire need to enhance and expand pipeline capacity throughout the U.S.
  • Natural gas furnishes roughly 25% of the energy supplied in the U.S.  
• Pipelines that transmit natural gas provide the safest option for transportation and delivery.
  • More than 99% of all pipeline deliveries are made without injury each year.
• Pipelines are necessary to transport abundant and affordable natural gas across the country.
  • A 2019 report by the Council of Economic Advisors estimates that the growth in shale gas alone provides an annual benefit of $159 billion to consumers.
• Moreover, natural gas pipelines also reduce the need for larger and costlier infrastructure.
  • When measured on a per-unit of energy delivered basis, natural gas pipelines transport energy on average 40–50% cheaper than electric power lines.

The economic benefits of the MVP highlight the need to increase the development of natural gas pipelines across the - the country, providing clean and reliable energy that benefits all Americans. A predictable and efficient permitting process for all pipeline projects would support this expansion.