In this video CONSOL Energy CEO, Brett Harvey, talks about the company’s purchase of natural gas assets from Dominion Resources. He seems to think highly of the potential for natural gas. A quote: “Natural Gas will be the chosen fuel.” (Consol already owns a lot of coal mines between the surface and the Marcellus Shale which create conflicting land use problems when drilling for natural gas.)

In the past natural gas has been viewed by some in the electric power industry as a fuel with an especially volatile price. A article on NASDAQ.com titled: US Power Companies May Be Forced to Embrace Shale-Gas Boom considers past and potential future use of natural gas in electricity generation.

Natural gas is used as both a fuel and a feedstock in the chemical industry. An article on BusinessInsider.com explores what a new abundance of gas might mean for the chemical industry.

Although international oil companies such as ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and BP were not pioneers in the development of United States gas shales they are now working to acquire positions in Europe. More in a Financial Times article.

Will the natural gas contained in America’s shale be providing energy for the next 100 years? The CERAWeek conference looks at the future of U.S. shale gas. Details in a Reuters article.

Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil, says refueling stations are the big problem for the widespread use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. But, he also says that natural gas is becoming a much more important fuel for electricity generation. More in a Dallas Morning News article.

A free webinar titled: “The Impact of Marcellus Shale: What Do the Economic Impact Studies Imply?” is scheduled for Thursday, March 18th at 1:00 PM and hosted by the Penn State Cooperative Extension. You can register on their website.

How long will the new natural gas shale plays be producing gas? 20 years? 40? More? This topic was discussed at IHS CERA conference last week in Houston. Some believe that they will be producing gas for a long time.

Joseph Aldy, special assistant to President Obama for matters related to energy and the environment says that there is not enough evidence to say if hydraulic fracturing fluids are damaging the environment , however, releasing the composition of the fluids would avoid regulation that might require it. More on the Reuters website.

Governor Mike Beebe points to the Fayetteville Shale Play and wind energy projects as bright spots in the Arkansas job climate. More in an article on BusinessWeek.com.

An article on the Reuters website explores the potential response of the LNG industry to the new abundance of natural gas from shale plays that are developing in many parts of the United States and throughout the world.

An article in the Houston Chronicle explains how the natural gas industry must now “make a case” because many lawmakers have a strong preference for renewable energy sources and those which are perceived to be more environmentally friendly.

A story at AOL News reports on company building a natural gas pipeline on the floor of the Baltic Sea. They discovered a dozen sunken ships that are thought to be between 300 and 400 years old.

A boost for development of the Fayetteville Shale is work starting on the “Fayetteville Express Pipeline” that will carry about 2 billion cubic feet per day from Conway County, Arkansas to the Trunkline Gas Company in Panola County, Mississippi. More on this at Market Watch.

A study of seismic activity near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport by researchers from SMU and UT-Austin reveals that the operation of a saltwater injection disposal well in the area was a “plausible cause” for the series of small earthquakes that occurred in the area between October 30, 2008, and May 16, 2009.