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Comment by profile53

1 year ago

Most natural gas in the U.S. comes as a byproduct of fracking oil, which imo is worse than coal as reserve power because you have to maintain fracking sites and usually pump a fair amount of oil and briny water alongside the gas. Coal is easier to mine in small amounts afaik and has less local harms (e.g. water contamination, earthquake risk, etc.).

No, actually most natural gas in the US is produced as "non-associated" gas, not gas associated with petroleum production.

Coal's been driven out of the market because it can't compete with natural gas. Solids are not as easily handled as gases.