Fueling a revolution: Colorado has emerged as a natural-gas leader with alternative fuel vehicles a key growth catalyst.

• Author: Lewis, David

In order to describe the burgeoning natural gas market, people understandably are forced to reach for grand metaphors.

And so it was that in the last couple of years a series of studies and news stories appeared proclaiming that, with its burgeoning U.S. production. 100-year reserves, and low and stable prices the Golden Age of Gas had arrived and Natural is King. These stories were followed by round of articles explaining that no, natural gas is not the king, crude oil was still king. Or wind farms and solar.

Last year the Paris-based international Energy Agency amid fanfare released a study. "Are We Entering a Golden Age of Gas?"

The IEA certainly seemed to believe that. In 1980, it noted, global oil consumption outranked natural gas consumption by a factor near three. The agency went on to predict that before 2030 natural gas use will surpass coal, and by the year 2033 worldwide natural gas consumption will quadruple from its 1980 base and almost have caught oil. Globally, among hydrocarbons natural gas might be said to be No. 3 with a bullet.

In his of ways right now natural gas is less tile king of hydrocarbons than the potential kingmaker. the kingpin, the fulcrum, the pivot. Call the Natural Gas Revolution whatever you like; we'll settle for calling it a revolution-in-the-making.

The good news is that last year Colorado's natural gas production "increased for the 25th year in a row to break another record output high." according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. "The Niobrara shale play in the northeast corner of the state helped raise Colorado's natural gas production," but overall state production increased just 1.4 percent.

The Golden Age seems to be found on the buy-side of the equation. It's a buyer's market in natural gas now. to say the least. Fueling a potential revolution are low, stable natural gas prices all over the United States, and especially in Colorado.

All kinds of powers and influences unleashed by producing so much natural gas are shaping all sorts of changes. Forces both governmental and in the marketplace are bubbling, with the government ever-pressing for clean engines, producers fighting for new markets, and consumers pushing to keep costs clown.

On the macroeconomic, geopolitical, panoramic level, a fight is shaping in Washington. D.C. over Liquid Natural Gas exports. which could raise domestic natural gas prices and stimulate production.

On the pro side are those, like just-retired Sen. Richard Lugar. R.-Ind., who claim that natural gas exports among other benefits could serve a national purpose...