Natural gas power plants are one solution to meet increasing energy demands in Israel. An article on the Rand.org website discusses Israel’s energy strategy.

An article on the CNN website explores some of the potential environmental impacts of natural gas wells drilled into the unconventional shale formations such as the Marcellus, Barnett, Fayetteville, and Haynesville. Exxon has a clause in its deal to buy XTO that will allow the company to escape from the deal if federal regulations prohibit hydraulic fracturing or place severe regulations upon it.

“A proposal has been filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to develop a natural gas storage facility in underground salt deposits northeast of Eloy in southern Arizona.” Quoted from Arizona Geology Blog.

Environmentalists are concerned about the impact of hydrofracking on subsurface rock units and waters. Some want to ban the practice and if they are successful the  development of natural gas shales will be in question.  More at the Star-Telegram Website.

Exxon’s intention to buy XTO, a leading producer of natural gas from shale, could provide inertia that will move natural gas into the position of a bridge towards renewable energy.  More on the FWBusinessPress.com website.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline and the Jordan Cove LNG  terminal. The terminal will receive about 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and the pipeline will transport the gas from the Coos Bay terminal to Malin, Oregon. The project will supply natural gas to underserved markets in the Pacific Northwest, northern California and northern Nevada.  More on the Jordan Cove Energy Project Website.

The Energy Information Administration reports that the wellhead price of natural gas rose strongly in October and November. The November wellhead price was $3.64/Mcf.

Some methods of creating energy are more expensive than others; for example, coal-burning power plants are generally cheaper to operate than natural gas plants. But depending on emissions taxes, the most inexpensive and eco-friendly energy could turn out to be from natural gas. An article on the MIT website reports on solid-oxide fuel cells as a zero-emissions solution to creating electricity from natural gas.

An article in the Washington Post reviews the ongoing debate over the environmental and human impact of hydraulic fracturing, in the development of natural gas reservoirs in shales such as the Marcellus of the Appalachian

The Energy Information Administration reports that the wellhead price of natural gas fell in September to $2.92 per thousand cubic feet. That is its lowest level since August, 2002.