Marcy de Luna, Sabrina Valle, and Arathy Semasekhar

HOUSTON (Reuters). – As Europe faces an energy crisis, the war in Ukraine is triggering a renewed debate over whether Ukraine is a friend or foe.

Although natural gas used to be considered the most efficient fuel when compared to oil and coal, its popularity has declined due to increasing awareness of global warming and production leakage. It has been rediscovered some of its appeal with large consumers returning to using even more dirty coal and oil.

Houston-based energy executives who gathered for the CERAWeek conference said Wednesday that global security will be better if there is more gas available. They used Russia’s invasion in Ukraine and Europe’s dependency on Russia’s oil to make their point.

Prices of natural gas in Europe are on the rise due to fears that Moscow may cut supplies as a retaliation against sanctions placed for Russia’s actions in Ukraine. It calls this a special operation.

One year ago, Europe saw natural gas as a fuel that could be phased out for the sake of renewables. This was according to Meghan O’Sullivan of Harvard University’s Kennedy School’s Geopolitics and Energy Project.

She stated that “that’s changed very significantly… this geopolitical seismic earthquake has made Europeans shift their perspective,” on Wednesday at CERAWeek.

UNCERTAIN TRANSITION

The chief of the U.S.’s largest natural gas producer, EQT Corp (NYSE :).,), called for the United States’ quadrupling its export capacity at 55 billion cubic feet per hour to speed up the end of coal-based energy use in Europe and Russia’s hold on Europe’s energy supplies.

Toby Rice, chief executive of EQT, stated that the plan would support U.S. producers and provide energy security for the world. He was referring to Russia’s turmoil which has reshaped stock and energy markets.

Ministers and executives from the energy sector echoed his views at CERAWeek, where they stated that Europe’s current energy crisis and uncertainty over supply were forcing certain countries to restart oil- and coal-fired power stations.

Japan’s Minister Hagiuda Koichi, Economy, Trade and Industry, stated that this shift to dirty fuels is “a sign of the complexity and uncertainty associated with the energy transition.” As renewables emerge, he urged colleagues to never underestimate gas’s importance.

MOMENT OF CRISIS

Jennifer Granholm from the U.S. Energy Department said, “We are in a warfooting,” and previously laughed at the suggestion she should have had a plan to increase U.S. output. “In this time of crisis, however, we require more supply.”

The environmentalists countered by stating that recent energy supply disruptions as well as economic hits from high prices emphasize the need for rapid development and support of renewables. They also rejected attempts to use carbon capture in order to reclassify natural gas.

Patrick Grenter of the Sierra Club Clean Air Campaigner said, “So-called natural gas releases immense amounts of climate-disrupting green gases and places communities at serious health risk.” “No industry spin can alter the fact methane gas remains a fossil fuel,” said Grenter.

According to John Kerry, U.S. climate ambassador and energy executive John Kerry, twinning gas with wind and solar can help ensure energy supply stability and combat climate change.

Kerry who helped to make last fall’s COP26 deal to curb methane emission said gas was “a critical component in the transition to energy.” At the conference, Kerry stated that natural gas could be used to “bridge” renewables-heavy futures.

Thomas Maurisse is vice-president of liquefied natural gases (LNG), France’s TotalEnergies. But we must not forget energy is necessary” as it can be combined with intermittent solar or wind.

Charif Souki is chairman of LNG developer Tellurian NYSE:, and will soon begin construction at its first export site.

He said that natural gas was now considered to be a “green commodity”. “That’s cool.”