American Gas - February 2011 - (Page 2)

Chairman’s message a snapshot of the year ahead AGA’s advocacy priorities include some perennial favorites— and some newer, promising opportunities. As the yeAr 2011 chairman of AGA, I have john somerhAlder ii 2011 AGA chairman been asked to guest-author what is normally the monthly message written by AGA’s president and CEO. It is my pleasure to write that Dave McCurdy, a former member of Congress and the president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, has been chosen to succeed David Parker in that position and is expected to be on board in late February. As Dave will soon learn, AGA’s success is due to its ability to adapt to change while staying true to its core mission and highest priorities. Among those high priorities are the advocacy issues that the AGA Government Relations Policy Committee determines every year by polling the AGA members, tabulating their responses and then ranking those issues in order of importance (see related story on p. 8). Those priority issues are always a mix of the old and new, or—more often—a mix of issues moving up and down the advocacy priority list because of changing circumstances on Capitol Hill, or in our industry’s regulatory agencies, or even in the marketplace. To give an example, while pipeline safety tops this year’s advocacy priority list, as it often does, the issue of “Natural Gas as a Transportation Solution” climbed up the list, reflecting the fact that today a high priority for our industry is growing demand, and growing demand for natural gas as a transportation fuel—that is, increasing the number of natural gas vehicles on the road—is a very promising opportunity. Speaking of priorities, every new AGA chairman has his own, and I am no different. I will, of course, focus on the perennial priorities, including seeking increased funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, advocating for more natural gas supply and advancing all tax issues that help promote a strong utility business and the ability to make necessary investments, but my own experience at AGL Resources Inc. has imbued me with a unique perspective on a number of issues. To that end, growing the transportation market is definitely one of my highest priorities, both at my company and throughout our industry. Given the cost advantages of natural gas versus oil on a gallon-equivalent basis, and the environmental and energy security benefits that will result from using natural gas as a transportation fuel, it looks to me like a winning initiative. More research and development funding is another of my high priorities. If we are to increase end-use demand for natural gas we must offer consumers the cleanest, most efficient and cost-efficient end-use products, which can happen only if we put sufficient resources into developing new technologies and bringing them to market. A third priority of mine is promoting renewable natural gas. In an ever-greener economy and world, our industry needs to offer a renewable product—to be specific, pipeline-quality renewable gas, which means favorable tax treatment and other incentives. Think of this as my snapshot of the year ahead. A few new priorities, a different approach to some old ones, a new leadership team in place—and, of course, the one perennial constant: a dedicated, talented AGA staff and membership that I really look forward to working with. 2 february 2011 AmericAn GAs photo by Stan Kaady photography

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - February 2011

American Gas - February 2011
Contents
Chairman’s Message
Industry News
Safety First
Return on Investment
Be Prepared
Working Smarter
Places to Be
Noteworthies
Advertisers' Index
Jobline
Marketplace
Facts on Gas

American Gas - February 2011