Underground Construction - June 2019 - 8

NEWSLINE LATEST INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS
Natural Gas Key to Meeting Low-Carbon Goals
Natural gas will remain a significant contributor to the energy portfolio
and to economic growth in the United States over the next two
decades, playing a key role in meeting low-carbon goals, a new study
commissioned by the Interstate Natural Association of America (INGAA)
Foundation finds.
Conducted by Black & Veatch Management Consulting, The Role
of Natural Gas in the Transition to a Lower-Carbon Economy presents
a comprehensive analysis of the future role of natural gas and natural
gas infrastructure in a greener economy, over a 20-year period from
2020 to 2040.
The study examines and compares two scenarios: Balanced Future,
representing a balance of policy initiatives and market economics; and
Rapid Renewables Transition, representing a transition heavily driven
by policy and intended to accelerate the penetration of renewables in
power generation.
Supported by detailed modeling and industry subject matter expertise,
the report's findings are based on two future scenarios that consider
different levels of renewable escalation and how these levels will affect
natural gas demand, representing possible paths toward an energy
portfolio that is increasingly reliant on renewable energy.
In both scenarios, natural gas will play a key role in the transition
to a greener economy, and natural gas infrastructure will continue to
be needed.
"As demonstrated by this report, America's natural gas will serve both
domestic and global needs for many years to come," said Don Santa,
president of INGAA Foundation. "The members of the INGAA Foundation
look forward to contributing to the safe, efficient and environmentally
responsible transmission of natural gas to customers, as we transition to
a lower-carbon economy."
According to the report, the intermittent nature of solar and wind
power generation will intensify the need for flexible, nimble, fast rampup generation that natural gas supplies, to maintain the reliability of
the electric grid in the United States. Natural gas power generation will
require additional, flexible transmission services to balance the growth in
renewable generation and support electric grid reliability. New pipeline
capacity will support this transition.
"Natural gas has undergone a transformation over the past decade,
and this study illustrates that the attributes of natural gas and our robust
natural gas infrastructure mean natural gas will remain an essential
source of energy within a greener U.S. energy mix," said Deepa Poduval,
associate vice president and industry executive for oil and gas at Black
& Veatch's Management Consulting business. "We have a decades-long
track record of providing deep expertise on gas-electric interdependence
issues, and we're honored to have partnered with the INGAA Foundation
in this thoughtful examination."
The INGAA Foundation facilitates the safe, efficient, reliable and
environmentally responsible design, construction, operation and
maintenance of the North American natural gas transmission system
to advance the delivery of natural gas for the benefit of the consuming
public, the economy and the environment. *
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Interstate Natural Gas Association of America,
(202) 216-5900, ingaa.org
Black & Veatch, (913) 458-2000, bv.com

8

JUNE 2019 | UConOnline.com

by the President and Congressional
leaders has the potential to boost
equipment rental revenue by up to
10 percent from its baseline."
In Canada, rental revenue is
forecast to grow 2.5 percent in 2019
to total nearly C$5.6 billion and then
continues to expand with revenue
increases of 4.4 percent in 2020, 5.6
percent in 2021 and 3.7 percent in
2022 to total more than C$6.3 billion.
The American Rental Association,
Moline, Ill., is an international trade
association for owners of equipment
and event rental businesses, and
the manufacturers and suppliers of
construction/industrial, general tool
and party/event rental equipment.

DCA Supports
SkillsUSA for Workforce
Development

Skills Championship and Meet the
Employer events are held during the
2018 SkillsUSA National Leadership
and Skills Conference.

The Distribution Contractors
Association (DCA), headquartered
in Richardson, Texas, has partnered
with SkillsUSA, a national nonprofit
focused on workforce development.
During 2019, DCA is sponsoring
the annual National Leadership and
Skills Conference, June 24-28 in
Louisville, Ky., including a Meet the
Employer event, the construction
sector of the Championships, the
Awards and Recognition conference publication, a state SkillsUSA
director's breakfast and SkillsUSA
Champions magazine.
"SkillsUSA salutes the Distribution
Contractors Association for this partnership, which includes support for
our workforce development event
for middle-school, high-school and

college/post-secondary students
enrolled in public career and technical education programs," said SkillsUSA's executive director, Timothy
Lawrence. "The SkillsUSA National
Leadership and Skills Conference
is the largest hands-on showcase
of skilled trades in the nation. It
is attended by 18,000 students,
teachers, education leaders and
representatives from 600 national
corporations, trade associations,
businesses and labor unions."
The partnership is a natural. "The
quality and character of the SkillsUSA
students is exactly the type of individuals that thrive in our industry,"
said DCA Executive Vice President
Rob Darden. "The underground
construction industry has a massive
need for skilled workers.
"There are 2.1 million miles of
natural gas pipelines, most of which
needs to be replaced and repaired.
The job opportunities in the industry
for young people today could lead
to a very lucrative lifetime career."

EPA Provides $2.6
Billion in New Funding
for Water Infrastructure
New funding will assist states in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Region 7 with improving drinking
water and wastewater infrastructure.
The funding is part of the $2.6 billion
allocation that advances President
Trump's efforts to rebuild the country's aging water infrastructure, create
local jobs, and ensure all Americans
have safe and clean water.
"EPA is delivering on President
Trump's commitment to modernize
our nation's water infrastructure
and improve public health and
environmental protections," said EPA
Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "EPA's
$2.6-billion contribution to the State
Revolving Funds will enable more
communities to make the investments needed to ensure Americans
have safe water for drinking and
recreation. These funds can also be
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Underground Construction - June 2019

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