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Although
natural gas generation does produce carbon dioxide,
the primary greenhouse gas produced by human civilization, natural gas is about 50% more efficient per unit energy delivered than coal
in principle. This is because gas turbine technology has matured to the
point where factories, hotels, etc., can in principle generate their own
electricity, and use the waste heat, a process called "cogeneration". This fact has made "net-metering",
that is, the legal right to sell power back into the grid at retail cost, a
major issue in electricity deregulation. Many utilities are probably
worried that they will lose customers if net-metering of gas turbines of
substantial size (say, over 10 kilowatts) are allowed. Currently, net-metering
in New Mexico is not allowed over 10 kilowatts.
Increased use of natural gas was favored by the Clinton Administration as a hedge against global warming.
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