As Japan is forced to wind down its nuclear operations, natural gas is surfacing as a possible replacement, explains Holland.

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He said gas engineers told him they struggled to get replacement parts for the boiler delivered because of the snow and, on one visit, they brought the wrong part.

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NOte that 23% reduction in fuel consumption is due to the efficiency increase and another 5% reduction is due to the replacement of 5% of the gas by the ethanol (EDIE uses 5% ethanol).

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Too many cars on the road cry out for replacement in terms of mileage driven and high gas consumption.

FORBES: Magazine Article

In fact, it is now positioned as a solution to global climate change as a replacement for fossil fuel based energy (burning coal or natural gas).

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Several lawmakers seemed convinced, describing natural gas as "a precious resource, " a bridge to a renewable energy future--and a replacement for coal.

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Coal, used to produce steel, is also a viable replacement for oil, with its adoption for energy generation expected to grow incrementally more than natural gas, oil, hydro, solar, biomass, and geothermal combines over the next decade, according to Peabody.

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