American Gas - December 2013/January 2014 - (Page 2)

Though we may now be the envy of the world, realizing the benefits of our energy revolution will take both optimism and a can-do attitude By Dave MccurDy president's Message Plenty oF work to do o ur nation has a tremendous opportunity with natural gas. We are in the enviable position of having both a domestic abundance of clean energy that can be produced with increasing efficiency and affordability and a sophisticated network of pipelines capable of delivering this energy to homes and businesses safely and reliably. Envy really is the right way to describe it. I was in Beijing recently for a meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Gas Union. My counterparts from other nations are truly in awe of the incredible good fortune we have, and they are keeping a close eye on how we capitalize on this opportunity. As we step into a new year, I am mindful of how this good fortune came about and the path we must take to realize all the benefits of this energy revolution. We operate the safest energy delivery system in the nation thanks to the dedication of the employees of America's natural gas utilities and our effective partnerships with state regulators, legislators, governors, and other key stakeholders. We must continue to work together to advance important safety policies that both enhance system integrity and support affordable access to natural gas service for homes and businesses. Our exemplary safety record is due to the selfless dedication of folks like Ron Jibson. As chairman of the American Gas Association for 2013, Ron has bolstered our safety culture, deepening our commitment to integrity management and championing our proactive efforts to defend our systems from new and emerging threats. This tops Ron's incredible list of accomplishments on behalf of our industry including his time chairing AGA's Operating Section and his service on our Board of Directors. We are 2 AmericAn GAs december 2013/january 2014 extremely grateful for his significant efforts in helping ensure that America's natural gas utilities can continue delivering the promises of natural gas. There is still plenty of work to do as we push for a clean and secure energy future where natural gas not only provides energy for homes and businesses, but runs a significant number of our vehicles, generates power, and supports other forms of renewable energy. I cannot think of someone who embodies this optimism and can-do attitude more than Gregg Kantor. Gregg is the president and CEO of NW Natural based in Portland, Ore., and will serve as AGA chairman in 2014. The profile of Gregg in this issue attests to his powerful combination of executive leadership and public policy experience. Gregg brings deep relationships with legislators to this role and lessons learned from active participation in a robust dialogue about how we deliver energy in the 21st century. He is a passionate advocate for the role natural gas will play in delivering solutions for our economy and our environment. As I have gotten to know Gregg, it has become clear that his talent is surpassed only by his work ethic. I am inspired by his tremendous intellect, boundless energy, and commitment to his family. Gregg's brand of leadership is well suited for this moment in our organization's history. I look forward to continuing our work together. I hope this holiday season will be filled with joy for you and your family as we turn with fresh hope toward a new year. u President and ceO, dmccurdy@aga.org

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

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American Gas - December 2013/January 2014