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Evidence of shale gas’ huge role in continued declines in U.S. CO2 emissions, as well as  the three major electrical power plant pollutants – sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury – is obvious to any objective observer. And now, it has become so obvious that even a recent study conducted by fracking opponents Ceres and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) acknowledges natural gas’ contribution.

“Benchmarking Air Emissions,” an annual report spearheaded by Ceres and co-sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council – both well-known anti-fracking groups – analyzes emissions data for the nation’s 100 biggest power plants, which account for 85 percent of U.S. electricity and 87 percent of the country’s energy-related emissions. The report boasts that energy-related sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), mercury and carbon dioxide emissions have all plummeted since 1990 (based on 2014 data, the latest year available), as EID has highlighted several times before.

Surprisingly (albeit tepidly) the report gives props to natural gas:

“Some of the factors driving this trend include energy efficiency improvements and displacement of coal generation by natural gas and renewable energy… Since 2000, emissions from all four pollutants have dropped while total generation and gross domestic product have increased…”

The report even gives natural gas its deserved top billing for contributing to low electricity prices:

“In addition to low electricity demand growth, the major driving forces behind these trends reshaping the electric sector include an abundant supply of low cost natural gas, falling renewable technology costs, and policy support for wind and solar energy resources.”

Perhaps most surprisingly – even as it predictably gives renewables disproportionate credit for...