Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz called on the US to use the natural gas boom as a temporary means of cutting CO2 emissions until renewables can capture a greater share of US energy markets in a video released today on his facebook page.

Below is a partial transcript of the video, which can be found here:

“This natural gas boom is a boon.”

“We all know that it is partially responsible for the decrease in CO2 emissions that we have experienced over the last years in the absence of, at least, over-arching legislation.”

“The way to look at it – and, you know, as gas as kind of a bridge to a very low carbon future – is that it affords us a little bit more time to develop the technologies, to lower the costs of the alternative technologies, to get the market penetration of these new technologies.

“The key is that buying time is not very useful if you don’t use the time… It means pushing hard on those other technologies, on the renewable technologies. This is the time to get those ready for the marketplace on a big scale.”

“Clearly, we need to continue our focus on wind, pushing more offshore wind, for example, where cost reduction is critical. Certainly pushing on solar across the board, and like I say I’m very bullish on solar. I think it’s going to be a lot bigger than most people think, sooner than they think.”

“We do need to do a little more looking at engineered geothermal systems, at small hydropower and other options as well.”