If Europe wants to embrace natural gas as a bridge to a low-carbon future, it should draw from America’s success

Why have Europeans paid nearly $500 billion more than Americans for their gas over the past six years? Jeff D. Makholm looks at the differences in gas markets between the U.S. and Europe, writing that while America’s pipelines are run in an open and competitive way, Europe’s are secretive and monopolistic. He argues that gas suppliers in European countries operate behind the European Union’s protectionist legislation, which leads away from competition in gas supply. Only when the European Union empowers its gas consumers to act collectively and confront this regulation, will gas related energy costs – and carbon emissions – begin to fall.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 26.03.15: Statoil sees stricter CO2 constraint pushing demand for gas http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/statoil-sees-stricter-co2-constraint-pushing-demand-gas-313277

---