Gas And Renewables Cut Emissions - Mary Landrieu

A photo was taken of the Cameron LNG plant in Cameron, Louisiana. This happened on October 20th, 2022. Sophia Germer, a photographer, took the picture. She works for NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune, and The New Orleans Advocate.

This week, the biggest renewable power group is meeting in New Orleans. They want to celebrate the awesome progress they've made in cutting carbon emissions and using more wind and solar energy. It's also a chance to say that natural gas is a great team player in this work. The Energy Information Administration says that renewables have cut carbon emissions by almost 40%. But natural gas switching from coal is doing even better at 60%.

We've done well reducing emissions so far. But time's running out to tackle the big climate problem. American natural gas is a great partner for renewables, like nuclear and hydro. But we need everyone to step up and figure out a way forward on climate, reliability, security, and affordability.

American Clean Power Association's CEO, Jason Grumet is an honest leader. He wants all sides to come together on permits reform. It's crucial to reach a green future. Modernizing the process is necessary for renewables and natural gas. We must recognize that both are needed - wires for renewable energy and pipes for natural gas.

Last month, Jennifer Granholm (Energy Secretary) endorsed the Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline. She thinks that natural gas infrastructure plays a vital role in the US's clean energy future. Biden's administration seems to have taken a big step forward with this endorsement.

Making more natural gas in the US helps reduce harmful gases and supports our friends who rely on coal. This also makes our economy stronger.

Brian Deese, who used to work for President Biden, said that being able to quickly send natural gas to Europe to support them against Vladimir Putin is an important but often overlooked thing this year.

American companies that produce liquefied natural gas (LNG), mostly found in the Gulf region, supplied Europe with 50% of their natural gas in the previous year. They managed to increase this number by 141%. This was helpful in preventing an economic and humanitarian crisis, as well as making Putin's strategy backfire. Additionally, it drastically altered the global energy marketplace in our favor.

These firms and their big ships arrange the transportation of LNG from Louisiana, which contributes to global security. They also support local industries such as petrochemical and fertilizer production, as well as steel and cement manufacturing, which are vital for a stable manufacturing sector.

We are doing LNG expansion in Plaquemines Parish. This is happening all throughout the Gulf Coast. We want to stay as a leader in the world. We are trying to move away from using coal, which is bad for the climate. Instead, we want to use natural gas. This is better for the climate. We are also thinking about using wind power, solar power, nuclear power and hydroelectric power.

U.S. natural gas is becoming cleaner, with a focus on reducing methane emissions. This makes American producers stand out in the global market. Some companies have earned certifications for responsibly sourcing natural gas. Others are using satellite technology to find and fix leaks. Many are partnering with third-party organizations to show they are trusted allies in the fight against climate change.

Louisiana's Governor, John Bel Edwards, knows natural gas is important alongside renewables for energy reliability, affordability, and decarbonization. Many carbon capture and sequestration projects are being considered in Louisiana and the region to get rid of harmful emissions. These projects will attract lots of money and create many permanent jobs in Louisiana.

We need to keep spreading the good news about how clean natural gas can reduce U.S. emissions and help the world. We should hear what the Clean Power leaders have to say about making it easier to get permits for renewable energy and natural gas. We should speed up our exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) so we can lower emissions worldwide and stop using coal. And we should invest more in new tech, like carbon capture, that can work with renewables to cut emissions even more.

To have a flourishing economy, we must do these things for the future. People in Louisiana can feel proud for being leaders in a sustainable, low-carbon future for the planet.

Mary Landrieu was a senator for Louisiana from 1997-2015. She now co-chairs the leadership council for Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future.