American Gas - June 2013 - (Page 18)

s tat e H o u s e Locally grown Pennsylvania moves to use more of its own gas HARRISBuRG, PA —Pennsylvania lawmak- ers have unveiled a multifaceted package of legislation called “Marcellus Works” designed to encourage the use of locally extracted natural gas as a primary fuel for consumer and commercial vehicles in the state. The Marcellus Works plan involves nine natural gas-related bills under consideration by the Pennsylvania House. The plan would move $55 million to $60 million in state money into tax credits, grants, and loans aimed at encouraging transit authorities, school districts, local governments, and private businesses to convert their fleets to NGVs. Funds would come from taxes on the extraction of natural gas that Pennsylvania implemented in 2012. The bills include: • A tax credit for private fleet vehicles to lessen the incremental cost of NGVs • Grants and loans to help mass transit agencies of all sizes transition their bus fleets to natural gas • The creation of a corridor of natural gas fueling stations along Pennsylvania’s interstate highways. Supporters say using more of the gas from the state’s Marcellus Shale formation will lead to fuel savings, cleaner air, and less dependence on foreign oil. “This package is all about taking an abundant resource within our state and using it to both enhance our economy and improve our environment and the health of our residents,” said State Rep. Kathy Watson, a bill sponsor, at the April press conference announcing the initiative. “By encouraging our mass transit agencies to transition to cleaner natural gas vehicles, Pennsylvania will be on the cutting edge of establishing the infrastructure and will serve as a model for other states around the nation.” The Marcellus Works package is similar to legislation introduced by Pennsylvania House Republicans in the previous two-year session. Those bills didn’t gain traction in the then18 AmericAn GAs june 2013 Democrat-controlled chamber, but the prospects for passage have improved now that Republicans are in the majority, according to House Majority Whip Stan Saylor. This legislation will provide “a short-term boost to the industry that will clean up our air, create jobs, and benefit every working family in Pennsylvania,” Saylor said in a press conference. “We are going to try to get people to utilize natural gas in their vehicles and homes and help small businesses and mass transit—as well as local governments and school districts—to convert to natural gas and lower their energy costs while using a Pennsylvania resource.” —Gary James s tat e H o u s e One Way or Another A state-sponsored way to get Alaskan gas to Alaskans FAIRBAnKS, AK —The Alaska state legislature has appropriated $355 million toward the design and permitting of a 500 million-cubicfeet-per-day pipeline to deliver North Slope gas to Fairbanks and other population centers in south-central Alaska. The decision comes over objections that it will undermine a much larger proposed pipeline and LNG shipping facility. Alaska State Rep. Mike Hawker, who sponsored the legislation for the in-state pipeline, told American Gas it would serve as a complement to the larger pipeline—or as an alternative if it never gets built. In 2008, the state granted TransCanada authority to build and operate a 3.5 billioncubic-feet-per-day pipeline, which initially was to transport North Slope gas to Canada and the lower 48. The company has since changed course and is currently studying the feasibility of building the pipeline to an LNG export facility in south-central Alaska. Supporters of the larger pipeline say that it would be a cheaper way to bring natural gas service to more Alaskans due to economies of scale and would generate significant revenue for the state. Hawker said the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., which is charged with getting the in-state

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - June 2013

American Gas - June 2013
Contents
President’s Message
Subject Index
Safety: It Takes a Village
Digest
Issues
Update
Need to Know
Need to Know
By the Numbers
Places
On the Market
State House
Elm Street
The Calm Before the Storms
Profile 28
2013 AGA Membership Directory
Jobs
Buyer’s Guide
Marketplace
Headway

American Gas - June 2013