US natural gas, particularly shale gas, will receive increasing attention in 2009 because crude oil is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to find and produce. Natural gas also is becoming more attractive for investors given worries about greenhouse gas emissions. Although the future direction of climate policy remains unclear, it’s likely US President-elect Barack Obama will push for better energy efficiency and for lower GHG emissions. Natural gas has an advantage among fossil fuels, pending the development of alternative energy, because of its low carbon-to-hydrogen ratio. Gas also appears to be a practical and perhaps one of the most immediate ways for the US to increa...