"CO2 emissions in US drop to 20-year low"

"In a surprising turnaround, the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere in the U.S. has fallen dramatically to its lowest level in 20 years, and government officials say the biggest reason is that cheap and plentiful natural gas has led many power plant operators to switch from dirtier-burning coal."

See the article at:  http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/16/3459114/carbon-dioxide-...

How will these low prices for natural gas affect efforts to develop a national energy policy?

What are the short-, mid- and long-term impacts to renewable energy deployment?