Atmos Energy 2009 Annual Report Download - page 10

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 10 of the 2009 Atmos Energy annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 36

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36

Natural gas is the naturally clean
choice to fuel public transportation
and large fleets. Each natural-gas-
powered bus or large vehicle put
into service takes off the road the
carbon-emission equivalent of 325
gasoline vehicles. As part of its com-
mitment to improve air quality, the
Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority
intends to buy nearly 600 new buses
fueled with natural gas.
8 | ATMOS ENERGY 2009 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT
We’ve heard some dramatic predictions about shifting from oil to other forms of energy,
such as natural gas. How would this happen? And, is it realistic to expect this to happen?
Cocklin: It is realistic, but it’s important to understand the role different forms of energy can
play. Some groups have done a marvelous job of advertising for windmills and wind energy,
solar energy and other renewables. Yet, wind and solar today supply only about 2 percent of
the energy we use. Natural gas, on the other hand, supplies about 25 percent of our energy.
As a nation, we’ve overlooked the larger capabilities of natural gas until only recently. Gas
is abundant, reliable, efficient and clean; it’s an energy we can use today. While it makes sense to add sustainable energy, like
renewables, our policymakers must recognize that this is not going to be cheap to do. It won’t be easy, and it won’t be fast.