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Look at the other side-with more demand natural gas prices might rise domestically, and coal would be more viable domestically.
Maybe user thecoalman will pop in and comment-this is his specialty, and he has more then a opinion, he has a opinion based on a ton of experience.
If you're concerned about particulate and CO2 emissions from China (and there is ample reason for concern), then this deal is exactly what the doctor ordered. Fuel-switching in Chinese generation facilities that normally burn coal will help them breathe somewhat easier by reducing their particulate and CO2 emissions. Particulate pollution caused by burning coal in relatively primitive generation facilities, of course, is their greatest source of concern at the moment.
The Coalman may have another perspective, but natural gas is the best substitute for coal as a boiler fuel for electric generation, with reasonable switchover costs, and it bears the additional benefit of reducing both particulate and CO2 emissions.
This deal has the potential to be a win-win for both sides. The U.S. has surplus natural gas capacity. If the Chinese have CNG terminals ready to go, we have the gas to ship, and shipping terminals ready waiting for gas to compress and ship.
Right now the U.S. is producing so much natural gas that we're practically looking for ways to get rid of it. The American consumer will still be just fine if we start selling surplus production to overseas markets.
I was asked for my opinion on this.... I donlt think we should be exporting any raw natural resource to anywhere whether it's coal, NG, oil, etc without a hefty export tax. <gasp, did he just say that> The one thing this country does have going for it is massive amounts of natural resources, exporting them to China is race to the bottom. Let's use those resources here and export finished products.
FYI this would probably help the coal industry but it will be at the expense of the consumer. Not the way to do it.
That sounds like shooting yourself in the foot economically. Australia will have zero problem taking what could be America's market share in Asia for natural gas without racing to the bottom. We are talking about India, S.Korea, and Japan, not just China. We have export terminals under construction, an expansion of refining capacity to take advantage of natural gas as a feed stock, and finally power generating plants. The notion we don't export finished goods in the $2.3 trillion in exports we do a year is quite silly as we are quite competitive in some areas.
Not always. But in trade we import manufactured goods. We might as well be China's colony.
What exactly do you think we are exporting?
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