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As the auto industry moves away from more fuel efficient vehicles and away from traditional fossil fuels, one replacement power source may be the use of natural gas.
Kyle Isakower, American Petroleum Institute Vice-President for Regulatory and Economic Policy, says currently natural gas is being used in a number of areas like home heating and manufacturing since it is cheaper and a very clean burning fuel.
He says some areas of transportation now burn natural gas as a power source, mostly bus fleets, but he suspects that will eventually carry over to long haul truck, car and light truck uses.
Isakower says a report has also found that Michigan could generate 12,600 more jobs and add up to $2 billion to an already $15 billion industry if the undeveloped natural gas is liquified and exported. Most of that process will involve hydraulic fracturing, which has come under fire from the Michigan Sierra Club who would like to see that practice banned.
Isakower says fracking is environmentally-safe with no problems ever recorded in Michigan because the process and current wells are monitored closely to prevent any groundwater contamination.
Governor Rick Snyder has called for more exploration of natural gas in Michigan, and touted the state’s positive track record for hydraulic fracturing.
