We hear more about Alternative Energy, so what is it. Alternative Energy is the energy that is derived from nontraditional sources like compressed natural gas, solar, hydroelectric or wind etc.
Natural Gas
A hydrocarbon gas that is usually obtained from underground sources, often in association with petroleum and coal deposits, as opposed to gases which are manufactured. Underground deposits of gases consisting of 50 to 90 percent methane (CH4) and small amounts of heavier gaseous hydrocarbon compounds such as propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10).
Before natural gas can be used as a fuel, it must undergo extensive processing to remove almost all materials other than methane. The by-products of that processing include ethane, propane, butanes, pentanes and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, elemental sulfur, and sometimes helium and nitrogen.
Compressed natural gas (methane) is a cleaner alternative to other automobile fuels such as gasoline (petrol) and diesel. As of 2005, the countries with the largest number of natural gas vehicles were Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Italy, Iran, and the USA.
[ Reference – wiki ]