Final answer:
Natural gas burns cleaner and more completely than oil, making it an environmentally preferable fossil fuel. While it does emit CO2, it releases less of this greenhouse gas compared to coal or oil. Additionally, the United States has abundant reserves of natural gas, particularly in shale formations.
Step-by-step explanation:
One advantage of using natural gas over oil as a fuel is that it is cleaner because it burns more completely (option D), resulting in less pollution and a smaller contribution to global warming. Natural gas emits less carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide during combustion than the burning of coal or oil does. While natural gas is a fossil fuel and does contribute to CO2 emissions, it is less damaging in this respect than other fossil fuels.
Another aspect to consider is that natural gas leaks are a source of methane, which is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2. However, when natural gas cannot be captured, it is often flared, or burned, which converts methane into CO2, reducing its impact on global warming. The United States has significant reserves of natural gas, particularly from shale resources, which have become more economical to extract as natural gas prices have increased. Despite being a fossil fuel, natural gas is considered a preferable option when looking to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production.