American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2023 - 35

Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver from
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
the state's retailers could inject butane
into their gasoline supplies to increase
their stocks.
" That capability is a really big deal in
the winter months, when a lot of butane
goes into injection in the gasoline pool, "
he details. " It is also possible to do that
in the summer, but only with an RVP
waiver, because butane increases vapor
pressure. We went to Governor (Andrew)
Beshear last spring and discussed this
with him. Within 48 hours, his administration
wrote to the White House asking
for the RVP waiver. "
The Biden administration's decision
to deny that request came at the expense
of gasoline consumers, including oil and
gas companies, Cate notes. " Would it
have had a massive, immediate impact
for our members? " he poses. " No, but it
would have helped with the cost of the
fuel they put into their trucks going to
and from well pads. That effort was unsuccessful,
but remains a testament to
KOGA's touch point with Governor
Beshear's administration. "
Watts also praises the governor's enthusiastic
embrace of federal orphan well
plugging funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law that Congress passed in
late 2021. " Governor Beshear mentioned
our industry at a press conference because
Kentucky ranked first in the nation for
most orphan wells plugged from this legislation, "
Watts recounts. " We are ahead
of the curve and lead the nation in orphan
well plugging, which has been a source
of pride. "
Watts also points to KOGA's philanthropic
efforts as an increasingly important
aspect of the association's work. " One
way we can educate the public is through
altruism, " he reflects. " KOGA gives back
to the communities in which we work. "
Cate offers the example of a former
colleague who has retired from his work
as an oil and gas landman to run an
eastern Kentucky homeless outreach program
for high schoolers. " I heard about
that right before a KOGA meeting and
said we had to do something for these
kids, " he says. " We are looking to create
a foundation that will have an impact
within our operating areas. I hope it can
provide scholarship funds. We are not
sure of the framework yet, but this is an
opportunity to help vulnerable kids and
maybe attract young people to come work
for us. "
2023 Convention
As KOGA prepares for its annual
meeting, Watts indicates that the assoJUNE
2023 35
ciation plans to include remarks from
both the governor and the GOP's gubernatorial
nominee. Along with the
planned hydrogen break-out session,
other subjects Watts says the association
hopes to feature on its program are oil
and gas price outlooks, natural gas as
an energy source for cryptocurrency
mining, orphan well plugging and the
true cost of 'green' energy.
" We also plan to have a panel discussing
pipeline safety and domestic terrorism, "
Watts notes. " This spring saw
the release of a movie called How to
Blow up a Pipeline. That helps provide
our membership some perspective on
what we face. "
But as great as the official proceedings
are, Watts says the best part tends to
come from the other side of the podium.
" I most enjoy the camaraderie, " he acknowledges.
" The talks and panels are
interesting, but at the end of the day, the
social and networking aspects allow us
to hear from each other. I also enjoy
seeing people light up when they receive
one of our industry awards. "
" I echo every bit of that, " Cate concurs.
" Since Covid, I am a happy man anytime
we can all get together. "
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American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2023

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