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Natural gas is the cleanest burning alternative fuel option for the transportation industry available today. It is a leading source of energy because it generates less environmental impact than other fossil fuels, is domestically produced, it is proven to be safe and represents a significant cost advantage over gasoline and diesel fuel. It is primarily composed of (90%) methane (CH4) and its remaining components are mainly propane, ethane and butane. Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon molecule with only one atom of carbon surrounded by four hydrocarbons. Natural gas is a fossil fuel, but it is cleaner than other fossil fuels such as gasoline, petroleum and coal because it does not contain harmful compounds such as lead, and contains miniscule amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Natural gas does not contain any particulates, such as with diesel fuel, and reduces emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary green house gas. It burns almost completely with trace amounts of carbon dioxide and water being its main byproducts.
Natural gas is found in large underground fields much like crude oil. It is formed by the decay of organic matter such as plant and animal remains. It is lighter than air and dissipates quickly if not kept in a closed system. Extensive underground pipelines carry it from the source to where it is needed. For instance, most U.S. households have access to a source of natural gas for heating their homes or for cooking. Currently the United States relies on natural gas for almost 25% of its energy usage. The United States has a huge resource base for natural gas. Due to improvements in production technology as well as changes to energy source consumption, the amount that can be produced is constantly increasing.
Compressed natural gas is formed by compressing natural gas to less than 1% of its volume at atmospheric pressure. This allows the gas to be stored in cylindrical containers under a pressure of 3600 psi (pounds per square inch) when full.
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