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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