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Natural
gas, as the name implies, is found in gaseous form naturally, underground
at varying depths and geographical formations. It is one of the most
abundant energy sources in North America, and because it is produced
domestically, it is not subject to foreign disruptions of price or supply.
Comprised primarily of methane, natural gas is odorless and colorless
when it comes out of the ground. After impurities are removed, the natural
gas is introduced into the 1.3-million-mile interstate pipeline system
where it is transported to the service areas of local distribution companies
like Southwest Gas. Southwest Gas, in turn, delivers the gas to homes
and businesses in the communities it serves.
 Prior to distribution, a harmless
odorant is added to the gas so any leakage can be easily detected before
an unsafe situation occurs. In addition to this "rotten egg"
odor, natural gas has some built-in safety features. It is lighter than
air, so it will rise and dissipate into the atmosphere in the event
of a leak. And it has a very narrow combustion range, igniting only
when mixed with air at a ratio of between 4 and 14 percent. Any mixture
higher or lower than that range and natural gas simply won't burn. It
also requires a very high degree of heat, at least 1200 degrees Fahrenheit,
before it will ignite.
 Once combustion occurs,
natural gas is one of the cleanest-burning fuels available today. When
it is burned properly, the only emissions are carbon dioxide (which
is what we exhale when we breathe) and water vapor. Because of its clean-burning
properties, natural gas has become the environmental fuel of choice
for many residential, commercial and industrial applications. Such applications
include: space heating and cooling, water heating, cooking, clothes
drying; and as a fuel for fireplaces, vehicles, power plants, commercial
and industrial boilers, as well as commercial and industrial processing.
Today, some 60 million homes and businesses across the nation rely on
natural gas to meet their energy needs.
Natural Gas -- safe, clean, economical,
and domestically produced.
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