Right now, for example, the bulk of the natural gas traded in the physical market (as opposed to financial contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange) is still handled by "smile and dial" phone brokers at firms such as Prebon Yamane and Amerex.

FORBES: Web Powerhouse

Calgary-based Inter Pipeline is in the business of petroleum transportation, bulk liquid storage, and natural gas liquids extraction.

FORBES: More themes for the coming year

The company is poised to see volume growth, especially since gas-fired power plants are coming in line in the U.S. over the next decade--and the bulk of them will be using natural gas as their fuel.

FORBES: Magazine Article

But Exxon's makes the bulk of its profit by producing oil and natural gas.

NPR: Exxon 1Q Earnings Rise But Production Slips Again

In the first half of this year, 165 new power generators were added in 33 states, but among the 10 states with the bulk of new generating capacity, "most of the new capacity uses natural gas or renewable energy, " the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported in July.

MSN: 'War on coal'? Why Obama might not be industry's worst enemy