Natural gas makes up 8% of Virginia’s electricity generation. However, natural gas is directly used by many residential and commercial consumers for heating, cooking, and water heating.
Virginia produces natural gas from two sources – conventional gas and coal bed methane. Most of Virginia’s natural gas production occurs in the Southwest counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell and Wise. According to the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy, natural gas production in Virginia is increasing. While it represents a small part of our electrical generation fuel mix, natural gas is a valuable resource for Virginia. Virginia’s natural gas production was valued at $716 million in 2007.
Natural gas is the cleanest of all fossil fuels and produces the lowest level of greenhouse gases.