On August 26, 2013, United States
Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz discussed the Obama Administration's June
25, 2013, Climate Action Plan at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy
Policy. Dr. Moniz called natural gas a "bridge to the future," as it has
helped the United States reduce its carbon emissions. The Secretary noted that
the reduced price of natural gas has decreased carbon emissions because some
power plants have switched to burning natural gas to generate electricity.
Dr. Moniz stated that all of the
safety issues related to hydraulic fracturing for natural gas had "clear
solutions" and were "manageable." Additionally, the Secretary called
for the "consistent application of best standards through regulatory and
other approaches" to manage those safety concerns. The Secretary did note
his concern that unconventional gas production was becoming increasingly
vulnerable to the decreasing availability of water in some areas of the United
States.
Lastly, Dr. Moniz discussed the
natural gas export licensure process, which differs depending on whether an
importing country is in a free trade agreement with the United States. The
Secretary further stated that the application process is a public process where
each application is evaluated for its impact on the public interest and economy.
A video of the speech may be found at:
The June 25, 2013, Climate Action Plan is available at:
August 27, 2013
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