American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2016 - 94

ConventionSection: Virginia Oil & Gas Association
pansion rider" that applies to new customers
only (AOGR, June 2015, pg. 105).
"The Virginia State Corporation Commission approved a program for Columbia
Gas earlier this year, and implementation
will move forward later in 2016," Archer
says. "This gives us some additional tools
to extend the infrastructure from an LDC
into areas that don't have service. That is
an opportunity and a challenge for us."
Historically, Virginia residences have
relied on heat pumps and sometimes
propane for heating, but Archer says the
natural gas industry is recognizing the
potential to expand as homebuilders turn
toward the advantages that natural gas
offers as a heating source.
"We see some opportunities to accelerate the rate of growth in meter counts
on the LDC side of the business," he
poses. "That makes us very cognizant of
the need to support and protect what is
happening on the production and the
pipeline side. Builders are looking at
what they are able to offer new homeowners, understanding that they like gas
from a convenience and comfort standpoint. But homeowners also realize it is
an economic advantage for them to have
natural gas in their homes."
Working With Legislators
VOGA has a consistent history of
building positive relationships with legislators and regulators, Archer says, adding
the association continues to take advantage
of Virginia's business-friendly environment. The group also relies on a strong
foundation of support from the business
community understanding the connection
between energy availability and economic
development, he points out.
"That is not a real hard sell in Virginia.
But, VOGA has been very purposeful
about making natural gas more than an
afterthought," Archer describes. "Historically, the coal industry has been very
prevalent in Virginia, as it has been in
surrounding states. Now, natural gas is
becoming a more prevalent topic in the
news and as an energy source, not only
for the residential market, but commercial
and industrial as well."
Archer points to Columbia Gas, which
provides service to 12 gas-fired electric
generating stations. To further expand the
natural gas market, he says VOGA must
remain very purposeful and strategic about
how it presents its message, using the association's ongoing educational efforts
with elected officials and regulators.
94 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

VOGA Annual Meeting
Virginia Beach, Va.
Wednesday, June 22
8 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration, Hilton Garden
Inn Oceanfront
12:30 p.m. Executive Committee and
Board of Directors Meeting
6 p.m. Welcome Reception

Thursday, June 23
8 a.m.-Noon Registration, Hilton Garden
Inn Oceanfront
7 a.m. VOGA Golf Tournament
9:30 a.m. Family Fun Meeting
11 a.m. Fishing Charter
4:30 p.m. General Membership Meeting
6:30 p.m. Reception, Barbecue and Auction

Friday, June 24
7:15 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
8-10 a.m. Business and Technical Program
Update of Virginia's Oil and Gas Development for 2015, Rick Cooper, Virginia
Department of Mines, Minerals and
Energy
"Regulatory Challenges Facing America's
Independent Producers," Susan W. Ginsberg, Independent Petroleum Association of America
"Advocacy, Outlook, and Important Issues
for Oil and Gas," Miles Morin, Virginia
Petroleum Council
"EnerVest in Appalachia," Jim McKinney,
EnverVest Operating LLC
10-10:15 a.m. Coffee Break
10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Business and Technical Program
"Making Engineered Completions an
Every Well Event," Tony Villegas, C&J
Energy Services
"UPS' Move to CNG and LNG Vehicles:
Lessons Learned," Nick D'Andrea,
UPS
"Trillium: Moving CNG Forward with
Love's," Dean Nicol, Love's/Trillium
CNG
"Siting Gas Infrastructure: Strategies for
Success," Bruce McKay, Dominion
6 p.m. Dinner Banquet

"VOGA members see the benefit of
policies in Virginia that promote growth
and economic development as they relate
to industry. Our state fares pretty well in
comparison with the policies in some
other states," Archer asserts.
When anti-gas sentiment arises in
Southwest Virginia, he says VOGA's

strategic public relations program has developed support from people in the area
who directly or indirectly benefit from
production. Those residents provide alternative voices that show the benefits,
including employment, taxes paid, economic development, and quality of life.
"This shows the industry's ability not
only to weather criticism, but to respond
with facts," Archer says. "That has been
very helpful in minimizing opponents
that we might have seen, had the industry
not been as quick to respond. We have
seen groups in other parts of the state be
a little more effective in (protesting) oil
and gas development. The irony is they
have been successful in places where
there is no oil and gas. VOGA is not
quite as proactive in areas where it is not
seeing development and does not necessarily expect it any time in the future."
VOGA's member companies must remain vigilant and active as opposition to
industry projects such as ACP and MVP
continue, Archer urges.
Another challenge will emerge in next
year's elections. "We are the only state
where the governor cannot successively
serve more than one four-year term, so
when we get into 2017, VOGA members
will be looking at the next two candidates
and deciding which one offers the most
from an energy perspective," he says.
Annual Meeting
VOGA continues to hold its annual
meetings in Virginia Beach, with the
2016 event set for June 22-24. The association offers both business and social
agendas at its meetings, Archer says.
"VOGA has met annually in Virginia
Beach for a long time," he recalls. "It is a
very family friendly meeting. We have a
healthy business component, but there
are lots of networking opportunities. The
meeting really reflects the culture of the
organization, in that VOGA sees this as
an industry that provides great careers as
well as great opportunities for families."
The 2016 meeting will be back at the
Hilton Garden Inn. In addition to the
business and technical session, he says
the convention offers a golf tournament,
private fishing charter, and family barbecue.
"VOGA is a great organization, with
a long tradition in the commonwealth.
We all are very optimistic about the
growth opportunities and what we can
do for Virginia in both the near and longer
term," Archer praises.
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American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2016

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