An Appealing Potential Source of Energy May Leave a Bad Aftertaste

Gas hydrates, the other fossil fuel.

Researchers who are looking for a healthier alternative to the nation's gluttonous diet of oil and coal have become intrigued by the possibility of tapping the natural gas trapped in hydrates -- ice-like crystals that form in the sea floor and in the Arctic permafrost. Cleaner-burning than oil and coal, and producing more energy per unit of carbon dioxide released, gas hydrates seem to offer a palatable alternative as the search for a renewable

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