Expeter
"The worsening of the trade deficit was led by a wider petroleum shortfall which came in at $20.5 billion compared to $16.6 billion the previous month."
This is probably the major factor which will drive the continuing conversion to nat gas in the US. They have talked about it forever - getting off imported oil from countries unfriendly to them. There is now a concerted political and industry lobbying campaign in the States driving this point home.
Add to this the enviromental reasons favouring nat gas over oil for vehicles and coal for electrical generation - again a large lobbying effort underway.
Add to this the prospects for job creation in the States resulting from developing their own resource.
Just in the last few months there has been a sea change in public awareness and lobbying promoting natural gas. The writing is on the wall. These things may move slowly but in my opinion there is nothing more certain than the inevitable major conversion to natural gas, no matter how many years it takes.
glta qec'rs
Inceptus