Energy Expert: Use LNG to fix California Energy Problems

At TechCentralStation, Doug Bandow examines the growing imbalance between supply and demand in the Golden State's energy markets and suggests LNG is the solution to California's energy crisis:

Natural gas fires one-fifth of power generation nationwide. It is a particularly important source of fuel for California power generation.

While the U.S. accounts for a quarter of the world's natural gas consumption, it possesses only five percent of natural gas reserves. As American production wanes, imports are expected to grow dramatically over the coming decade.

An obvious solution is liquefied natural gas (LNG). Impurities are removed from natural gas -- a combination of ethane, methane, propane, and other compounds. The gas is cooled to liquefy it. LNG is neither corrosive nor toxic, and need not be shipped under pressure.

Bandow also points out some of the pitfalls in making this solution a reality. He is particularly critical of the NIMBY phenomenon, which has killed many a project in California.