American Gas - December 2013/January 2014 - (Page 12)

digest Continued from page 10 iraq, and, at press time, plans were in the works to award a third natural gas generator to a veteran. An administrative law judge removed one hurdle for UGi Penn natural Gas in its effort to build a new gate station in West Wyoming, Penn., by ruling that the project was not subject to local zoning codes. UGi Penn says the station, on 3.2 acres in rural Pennsylvania, will connect to the Transco interstate pipeline and bring local, lower-cost natural gas to the area. The borough of West Wyoming had argued that the project should have to go through the local zoning process. But the judge for the state Public Utilities commission found that it was "reasonably necessary for the convenience or welfare of the public," and therefore exempt. The decision is expected to be finalized by the PUc this fall. certificate program into a two-year curriculum in oil and gas production and processing. In Ohio, Eastern Gateway Community College is developing a program in natural gas operation. "In the past, the industry hired engineers or it hired lower-skilled workers, but it didn't hire a lot of technicians with knowledge of electronics and instrumentation," Bryon Kohut, a teacher at western Pennsylvania's Westmoreland County Community College told American Gas. "As a consequence, there were limited training programs for these workers. But that's changing rapidly." Kohut is director of ShaleNET, a U.S. Department of Labor grant administered by his college. Launched in 2010 with $4.96 million in federal funding, ShaleNET initially developed short-term non-credit training for jobs in oil and gas. The initiative provided instruction at 20 locations in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. It ultimately placed more than 3,400 participants in industry jobs. In October 2012, ShaleNET garnered another $14.96 million to develop certificate and associate's degree programs. The initiative now extends across Westmoreland County Community College, Pennsylvania College of Technology in north-central Pennsylvania, Stark State College in Ohio, and Navarro College in Texas. The schools developed a "stacked" curriculum that lets students earn certificates in natural gas basics, upstream production, pipeline management, downstream processing, and instrumentation and electronics. Students can combine those certificates to earn a two-year degree in petroleum technology. The curriculum is standardized so that employers know what training new hires have received. The ShaleNET schools are now evaluating other two-year colleges with the hope of developing similar programs across the country. They're also working with four-year colleges and universities so that students can apply earned credits toward related four-year degrees. Corporate sponsors are also supporting the program. Such companies as Anadarko, Chevron, Encana, and XTO Energy are helping to develop curriculum as well as offering scholarships and internships. As reported in American Gas, AGA launched the AGA Scholarship in April, which will provide $1 million in funding for students focused on energy-related fields. More than two dozen schools were selected to participate, including ShaleNET partners WCCC and Pennsylvania College of Technology. -E.S. Introducing Our Colorado Office Expanding to Meet All of Your Needs in the Rocky Mountain Region A Natural Gas Distribution Management Company For Pipeline and Civil Survey Services, please call: Project Development * Asset Acquisitions Engineering and Constructions * Project Finance Account Administration * Compliance Operations and Maintenance * Gas Supply Management Marketing * Customer Service * Billing and Collections 970-286-2199 Offices in Michigan & Colorado HollandEngineering.com 12 4100 Holiday Street NW Suite 201, Canton Ohio 44718 P: 1.330.498.9130 * F: 1.330.498.9137 www.utilitypipelineltd.com 1.888.863.0032 AmericAn GAs December 2013/january 2014 AmericanGas_ad_CO_office_final.indd 1 10/21/13 10:45 AM http://www.utilitypipelineltd.com http://www.HollandEngineering.com http://www.utilitypipelineltd.com http://www.HollandEngineering.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - December 2013/January 2014

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American Gas - December 2013/January 2014