American Gas - March 2014 - (Page 32)

profile infrastructure with modernized systems that incorporate the latest safety technology. But it's often challenging to convince state legislators and regulators to allow utilities to recover the cost of modernizing and R&D for innovative technologies through rate cases. What can the federal government do to assist in these safety improvements and in funding research and development? Foxx: I'm working hard to make the case for good transportation investment at the federal level, whether that means a repaired bridge, a new transit system, or an updated pipeline. All of these things impact the way people get to work on time, pick up their kids safely from school, or move goods efficiently for business. We're doing everything we can to show the American people that we are making the most of every dollar and using innovation to find new, more efficient solutions to transportation challenges. For pipelines in particular, we're raising awareness and educating the public through our National Pipeline Mapping System that shows what kind of pipelines are in each visitor's state. We're working with both federal and state rate-setting agencies to find ways pipeline companies can recover the costs incurred from infrastructure repairs, and we have invested more than $78 million in research and development projects since 2002 that are helping identify solutions to numerous pipeline safety challenges. AG: At 42, you're the youngest member of the Cabinet, and one of the youngest Cabinet secretaries ever. There's a need for innovation in the energy industry, but the workforce is aging. How do we attract more young people into the sector? Foxx: President Obama is working hard to make sure America remains a magnet for good jobs and a place where hard work leads to a good living. Some of the challenges we've faced lately, from shutdown to sequester, may make it difficult to recruit the kind of young, highly trained work- 32 AmericAn GAs march 2014 ers we need to meet our future challenges, but we are working hard to attract new employees. Under the Pipeline Safety Act, PHMSA has hired and trained 135 federal pipeline safety inspectors nationwide, the maximum allowed under the Act. We have emphasized the importance of STEM education-science, technology, engineering, and math-in training the next generation of transportation workers. There is also a need for plenty of "high-skill" workers with backgrounds in information technology, telecommunications, and engineering. As we all push to make transportation more sustainable and environmentally friendly, many "green" jobs-in areas like energy conservation, alternative fuels, and material recycling- will be available. We need young people's fresh ideas and creativity to help design our roads and bridges, create high-speed rail trains, operate our nation's transit systems, and find environmentally friendly transportation solutions. u dOT'S SuPPOrT fOr naTuraL gaS The u.S. department of Transportation is engaged in numerous research projects and efforts involving natural gas, including: State Pipeline Safety Programs: in september, the DOT's PHmsA announced $46 million in pipeline safety base grants for 46 states, providing 80 percent of the operating costs for state pipeline regulators that agreed to inspect intrastate pipelines on PHmsA's behalf. The participating states account for more than 300 inspectors responsible for more than 90 percent of the country's intrastate natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Pipeline Safety research: PHsmA awarded researchers at eight universities a total of $800,000 to develop ideas and technology to improve the safety of the nation's energy pipelines. Areas of research include robotic inspection systems, integrated inspection and cleaning tool technology, acoustic-based technology to detect buried pipelines, and automated monitoring threat prevention. The program is also intended to attract more graduate and PhD students in engineering and other technical fields to the study of pipeline safety. natural gas-fueled Ships: in november, the DOT's maritime Administration awarded a total of $1.4 million for two projects supporting the increased use of alternative fuels and technology in the maritime industry. Horizon Lines will use $900,000 to convert its vessel, Horizon spirit, to operate on LnG, and monitor its efficiency and air emissions. The U.s. subsidiary of Det norske Veritas will use $500,000 to analyze the issues associated with bunkering-the process of supplying fuel for ships-and the landside infrastructure needed to store and distribute LnG. "Fuel-efficient ships appeal to the maritime industry for the exact same reason that fuel-efficient cars appeal to consumers: they're easy on the environment and their pocketbooks," secretary Foxx said. natural gas Vehicles: in December, the DOT's Federal Highway Administration awarded $30 million to develop colorado's natural gas vehicle infrastructure. The grant, from the FHWA's congestion, mitigation, and Air Quality Program, will help pay for the construction of as many as 30 nGV fueling stations and at least 1,000 natural gas vehicles in the state. "These stations will help ensure an nGV owner can drive nearly anywhere across the state fueled by colorado-produced gas," said colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - March 2014

Contents

American Gas - March 2014

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