Cheap and near endless supply of energy to power industry and even everyday residential living.
Methane in some form or another will be powering our world well into the next two or three centuries, and the putzing around with solar and wind energy for terrestrial power uses will be long abandoned, as too expensive for wide application.
Anywhere a gas line can reach, is assured of being supplied reliable and adequate supplies of energy for heat, electricity and transportation. Spark ignition engines run on CNG or propane with little modification, while Diesels still have to have SOME Diesel fuel to assure the compression-ignition cycle operates efficiently, but supplemental gaseous fuel may be introduced to the air charging system to reduce the actual consumption of the Diesel fuel, while reducing the nitric oxides, soot particulate, and unburned fuel. And of course, there are no sulfur compounds in the CNG or propane. So low-sulfur or non-sulfur Diesel fuel can eliminate that problem altogether.
I agree that burning carbon makes much more sense today, but I’m still fascinated by the power in a single lightening bolt. And when I think of all the heat poured on the earth daily by the sun, I can’t help but think someday someone will figure it out.