Subsidies for coal and renewable fuels could put the squeeze on natural gas in climate change legislation, said the head of the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) Wednesday.

“There’s a false perception that natural gas will come out a winner in any climate change scenario because of its low emissions and reliable performance record,” said NGSA President R. Skip Horvath at the U.S. Energy Association’s annual “State of the Energy Industry” event in Washington, DC.

“The environmental benefits of natural gas will allow it to hold its own on a level playing field, but not if the field is dramatically tilted by subsidies for coal or overly rigid mandates for renewable energy sources,” he said.

Horvath said it is a myth that natural gas is certain to flourish under climate change legislation, pointing to analyses by the Energy Information Administration and independent economists that show gas losing market share under some climate change scenarios, despite its ability to affordably reduce overall emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

He disputed claims that the industry could be overwhelmed by a “dash to gas” by power generators under climate change legislation. And he took issue with those who would limit the role of natural gas — despite the prolific development of shale gas — as a bridge fuel.

©Copyright 2010Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.