About half of Americans consider natural gas a clean energy source, a misconception largely driven by a decades-long fossil fuel industry branding campaign, according to a recent poll. Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, yet oil and gas corporations have actively marketed the fuel as environmentally friendly since the 1970s.
The Origins of the “Clean Gas” Myth
Fossil fuel companies knew as early as the 1960s that branding gas as clean was deceptive, according to a report released by the Center for Climate Integrity, a research and advocacy group. An internal report from Shell in 1966 indicated that methane gas was released in embarrassingly large quantities at oil fields. Furthermore, a 1968 review sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute declared that atmospheric methane was connected to oil fields and that methane seepage was not unlikely.
In response to these findings, fossil fuel companies founded entities like the Gas Research Institute. According to the Center for Climate Integrity, these organizations were created to establish an appearance of objectivity, change the narrative, and drown out research indicating that gas harmed the environment or human health.
Public Relations and Industry Campaigns
Throughout the 1970s, the American Gas Association trade group collaborated with public relations firms to market gas as a clean, environmentally friendly fossil fuel. The gas industry launched a public relations campaign in 1971 titled “GAS, CLEAN ENERGY FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW.” A subsequent 1972 report from the American Gas Association asserted that the environmental benefits of an adequate natural gas supply were outstanding and offered a very positive answer to collective concern about the planet.
Did you know? By 1996, the American Gas Association was co-running studies with the Environmental Protection Agency. Internal communications published in the Center for Climate Integrity report show that EPA officials stated they simply did not have the expertise to independently review industry data and were unlikely to find problems even if they existed. The EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
Modern Infrastructure and Ongoing Lobbying
The public relations campaign proved effective. During the 2000s, American natural gas-extraction infrastructure expanded dramatically with the advent of fracking. Companies building this infrastructure occasionally qualified for green fuel subsidies and tax breaks. Natural gas remains classified as green in at least four states today, while the gas-appliance industry continues to lobby against labeling standards that might designate products as harmful.
“Officials who continue to justify expanding natural gas reliance by still claiming it’s clean or safe for the climate are using the same script and manipulated science that gas executives and their PR teams concocted decades ago,” Center for Climate Integrity President Richard Wiles said in a statement published with the report. “It’s time that these profoundly dangerous lies are finally put to rest.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is natural gas considered a clean energy source?
While approximately half of Americans view natural gas as clean, it is a methane-based, planet-warming fossil fuel. Methane is a significantly more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
When did fossil fuel companies realize the environmental impact of methane?
Internal documents show that fossil fuel companies knew as early as the 1960s that methane was released in large quantities at oil fields and contributed to atmospheric emissions.
What role did trade groups play in promoting natural gas?
Organizations like the American Gas Association worked with public relations firms starting in the 1970s to market natural gas as an environmentally friendly energy source and to sponsor research shaping public perception.
Stay Informed
Get investigative reporting and news free from the control of corporate interests. Sign up to explore more reporting and support independent journalism.