Why does it have to be piped. Why not run generators with NG and send the electricity to the grid? Am I wrong in thinking that the is a lot more electric infrastructure to tie into than NG pipelines?
Because “raw” natural gas contains too much stuff besides methane. It needs to be processed at a gas plant.
Also, these are relatively small gas producers spread out miles apart. If they were large gas producers, the economics would already justify the gathering system pipelines.
While 1/3 more in maintenance, they double the energy conversion to useful electricity.