Emissions have dropped at a faster rate in the United States vs. Europe within the past several years precisely because of the shift from coal to natural gas, which has led to an initially dramatic decrease. The rate of decrease will shrink as coal power plants are shut down. However, the goals set by the Obama administration have already been reached, long before the 2020 goal. China remains the key player in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as the United States has made measurable progress. This is in large part due to the dismantling or retrofitting of old coal-fired power plants, as they make the transition to renewable, gas, and mixed-use facilities. The shifts are becoming financially feasible, especially over the long haul. Short-term gains are remarkable, and long-term gains are set to be even more lucrative for the vertically integrated industries. The shift from coal to natural gas does not present any significant...
Vertical integration, and managerial style remain consistent. The SERC market (part of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation) highlights some of the core areas in which progress continues to be made.
The primary drawbacks now remain the future of natural gas extraction processes. Natural gas extraction can be deleterious to local environment for aesthetic and for ecological reasons. New technologies of extraction are critical if natural gas is to become a viable energy source for the future. The paradoxes that natural gas pose also give rise to a new paradigm in which appliances and other power needs are reconsidered in light of their engineering and design. If power needs can be reduced to weaken demand on supply, then global greenhouse gas emissions might be reduced in sum. Further research and development…
