Let me get this right, natural gas prices are at near all time lows, supplies are over the top, there are ample domestic reserves, natural gas is clean energy — and we are focused on building more horrendous looking, noisy wind farms on and offshore that take up hundreds, if not thousands of acres of land.
If our goal is to reduce dependency on oil and build our stable of domestic energy resources why wouldn’t we be finding quick, creative and realistic ways to do that? For example, why not provide interest free loans (or even tax credits for middle and lower income Americans) so households can convert home heating from oil to natural gas?
That lowers their costs, is less polluting, stimulates work for many people and can be done quickly using existing established companies.
I know, home heating is only a small portion of our oil consumption, but it’s a start and makes as much sense as paying me to buy a new car or upgrade my air conditioning … and it is a long-term strategic move; something sorely lacking from our political agenda.
Conversion incentives have been used in the past, mostly by local utilities, but now is a golden opportunity to try it on a larger scale … perhaps we can even get Joe Kennedy to stop telling us about his good friends in Venezuela who provide free heating oil to Americans.
P.S. There is even a plus for our friends on the left, natural gas heating is supplied to homes via REGULATED utilities unlike heating oil.
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QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
Financial incentive? Hmm, I always thought that meant profit.
But then, who can argue with industry getting free money from the men and women in congress rather than risking their own?
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You miss the point. Any incentive is not for the companies, but the homeowner.
A few years ago I converted to gas from oil. My incentive was getting rid of an underground 500 gallon oil tank. Many people could not afford that or simply wouldn’t care. There is an incentive for people to save money, but you must be able to afford the conversion.
In addition, while you can make the point all this is the individual’s responsibility, we cannot ignore the larger benefits to society. So either we do nothing or we change our view on incenting individuals.
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Hit or miss? What does that mean? That the natural gas industry throws darts at a U.S. map to decided where to install new pipe lines?
If by “we” you mean those men and women in congress getting involved, I’d go with the darts.
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The gas industry includes the exploration companies, pipeline companies and distribution companies (utilities) all over the Country. Getting a coordinated effort to get a household on Main Street to convert their heating source is not that easy, especially when it involves some kind of financial incentive.
In addition, it seems to me the benefits of all this go beyond the industry.
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It is in the interest of the natural gas industry to provide incentives to convert to natural gas, and not the responsibility of the men and women in congress.
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You have a valid point and in the past they have. However, that is rather hit or miss. Seems we need a broader strategy.
Dick
Richard D Quinn Editor Quinnscommentary.com
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