Emissions Implications of Future Natural Gas Production and Use in the U.S. and in the Rocky Mountain Region

McLeod, Jeffrey D.; Brinkman, Gregory L.; Milford, Jana B.

doi:10.1021/es5029537

Emissions Implications of Future Natural Gas Production and Use in the U.S. and in the Rocky Mountain Region

Journal Article · Mon Oct 20 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Environmental Science & Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es5029537· OSTI ID:2522736

McLeod, Jeffrey D.; Brinkman, Gregory L.; Milford, Jana B.

Enhanced prospects for natural gas production raise questions about the balance of impacts on air quality, as increased emissions from production activities are considered alongside the reductions expected when natural gas is burned in place of other fossil fuels. This study explores how trends in natural gas production over the coming decades might affect emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) for the United States and its Rocky Mountain region. The MARKAL (MARKet ALlocation) energy system optimization model is used with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's nine-region database to compare scenarios for natural gas supply and demand, constraints on the electricity generation mix, and GHG emissions fees. Through 2050, total energy system GHG emissions show little response to natural gas supply assumptions, due to offsetting changes across sectors. Policy-driven constraints or emissions fees are needed to achieve net reductions. In most scenarios, wind is a less expensive source of new electricity supplies in the Rocky Mountain region than natural gas. U.S. NOx emissions decline in all the scenarios considered. Increased VOC emissions from natural gas production offset part of the anticipated reductions from the transportation sector, especially in the Rocky Mountain region.

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

DOE Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 2522736

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-6A20-63655; MainId:18497; UUID:86265400-64a6-e411-b769-d89d67132a6d; MainAdminId:6975

Journal Information:: Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science & Technology Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 48

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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