As the use of natural gas for electricity production increases, consumers are in for a shock. Electricity prices could skyrocket if an explosion in a major interstate natural gas pipeline leads to a cascading blackout. This inflammatory and unprovoked warning surfaces in a study done for the Nuclear Energy Institute on the risk of growing dependence on natural gas due to continued nuclear plant retirements.

What’s remarkable about the salvo fired against natural gas is that it comes from an energy sector with its own history of getting targeted for being unsafe: the nuclear industry. Since the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, many reasonable people have entertained reasonable doubts about nuclear power. By contrast, natural gas has a reputation for efficiency, economy, public health, and safety.