Natural gas is an extremely valued resource in our society and is believed by many to be the most important energy source for the future. It is widely regarded as the cleanest of fossil fuels, and as a result, many regions are increasing their use of this resource due to environmental regulations. Energy from natural gas accounts for almost 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States, making it a vital component of the nation's energy supply.

The topic of energy in the United States is near the top of today's public agenda. The Energy Information Administration estimates that natural gas demand in the United States could reach 26.1 Tcf per year by 2030. Gas-fired electricity generation is easily the fastest-growing domestic natural gas market and the U.S. demand for electricity is expected to increase about 50 percent by 2030. In addition to electricity generation, gas has many other uses, such as in manufacturing, chemical plants, commercial and residential use. As a result, the demand for gas has increased dramatically.

The availability of natural gas, worldwide as well as domestically, coupled with its environmental soundness and multiple applications across all sectors, means that natural gas will continue to play an increasingly important role in meeting the demand for energy in the United States.