American Gas - August/September 2011 - (Page 2)

PRESidEnt’S MESSAgE A Road to Energy Security In addition to helping the environment and the economy, NGVs can fuel a more secure America. A Barry Myers DAve mccurDy President and ceO dmccurdy@aga.org s a former member of Congress who chaired committees dealing with global intelligence and defense issues, and as a current member of the Defense Policy Board and board adviser to several defense-related organizations, I have long been committed to America’s security in a dangerous world. And now, by a happy circumstance, I am part of an industry that can play a significant role in enhancing it. Everyone knows that America is overly dependent on imports of energy, predominantly oil, and that most of America’s oil suppliers have been, to varying degrees, corrupt and authoritarian, with little or no sympathy for America’s values or national interests. These oil-producing countries are also, for the most part, politically unstable as we have witnessed recently in North Africa and the Middle East. This has had an extremely deleterious effect on America’s energy security and, by extension, its national security. Fortunately, there is now a solution, which is outlined in the stories beginning on p. 25 of this issue of American Gas. Since more than 90 percent of our imported oil is used to fuel the transportation market, we can displace oil with domestically abundant natural gas in that market by significantly increasing the number of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) on America’s roads. This will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, thereby greatly enhancing our energy security. We would also save both America and America’s motorists money. Dollars spent producing and using domestic natural gas stay in America, reducing the billions of dollars we send overseas to pay for imported oil, while also creating thousands of domestic jobs. In addition, the domestic abundance of natural gas means that prices are both affordable and stable, especially compared with oil prices. On a gallon-equivalent basis, natural gas is approximately $1.50 less than gasoline, which means that, for example, a natural gas–powered bus could save up to $30,000 a year in fuel costs. Finally, putting more NGVs on the road will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing an older, gas-powered vehicle with a newer NGV can reduce NOx emissions by 75–95 percent and CO2 emissions by 20–30 percent. From an environmental, economic and security standpoint, promoting NGVs is a winwin-win situation, but there are challenges, including developing a nationwide re-fueling infrastructure and overcoming first-cost issues. That is why AGA and our members are working very closely with all interested stakeholders, including the auto manufacturers and energy companies, to find solutions, as Kathryn Clay, PhD, executive director of the AGA-ANGA natural gas transportation campaign, points out in her article on p. 31. Government support is also critical, in particular passage of the NAT GAS Act, which includes incentives to produce and purchase NGVs, as well as to install fueling stations—and I say that as a free-trader who cringes when government gets overly involved in economic decisions. But as the legislation’s lead sponsor, Rep. John Sullivan from my home state of Oklahoma, has noted, “We are spending $1 billion per day on foreign oil. This distorts our foreign policy and military policy, slows our economic growth and costs jobs here at home.” Well said and so true. 2 august/september 2011 AmericAn GAs

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - August/September 2011

American Gas - August/September 2011
Contents
President’s Message
In the Know
Industry News
Safety First
Is Now the Time for NGVs?
NGVs for America
The Drive to Succeed
Peer Pressures
Vendor News
Marketplace
Advertisers’ Index
Places to Be
Noteworthies
Jobline
Facts on Gas

American Gas - August/September 2011