American Gas - June 2012 - (Page 2)

President’s Message Facing the Future with Confidence Greater use of natural gas could help to jumpstart the economy, protect the environment and put our nation on a path toward energy security. very day I read that American confidence is at all-time lows. We no longer have the same level of faith in institutions and leaders that we once did. Consequently, we are seeing an erosion of our outlook on the future. I do not share this view. We have an opportunity to jumpstart our economy, protect our environment and put our nation on a path toward energy security through greater use of natural gas. The energy that has been delivered safely and reliably to our homes and businesses for years can be the foundation fuel for another century of American innovation and achievement. To realize this dream, we must do what is necessary to instill confidence in the responsible development of our domestic natural gas resource base. America’s natural gas utilities are doing their part to engage stakeholders, establish best practices and participate in a fact-based dialogue. The American Gas Association published a set of responsible resource development principles in May 2011, and in February of this year we released “Turning Principles Into Action,” a report that points to responsible and sustainable natural gas development practices being used today. In this issue of American Gas, we are featuring an in-depth article by James L. Gooding, PhD, about the technology and terminology behind extracting this abundant resource. The best way to instill confidence in natural gas and its role in our nation’s future is to get the facts out there in a spirit of full transparency. The chorus of voices calling for a future powered by natural gas is growing. President Obama highlighted the benefits of natural gas in his State of the Union address, and has been promoting responsible production and broader use of this domestic, abundant, afford- E DAve mccurDy President and ceO dmccurdy@aga.org able, clean and reliable energy source. I recently attended a meeting at the White House regarding the new administration interagency working group on natural gas. Bringing our industry to the table is an encouraging step, and it is my hope that this working group will foster improved government communication and coordination to promote consistency between the administration and the policies that are put into place. It is incumbent upon our industry to provide these agencies with the best available data. AGA is working with the Environmental Protection Agency and others on initiatives to develop more accurate methods for measuring and estimating emissions in order to fully understand the environmental impact of natural gas. Advanced American technology has given us the ability to develop and deliver an abundance of clean natural gas safely and reliably. As technology continues to improve, so does our ability to do it cleaner and greener. We believe that the environmental benefits of natural gas will become increasingly clear as more data are made available. Consumers have benefited enormously from the lower prices and price stability that have come with the growth of our natural gas supply. America’s natural gas utilities are the face of this energy source for more than 177 million Americans. We take great pride in the confidence they have in our continued ability to deliver natural gas to their homes and businesses. Through our continued efforts, we can instill that same level of confidence in America’s foundation fuel for generations to come. 2 AmericAn GAs june 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - June 2012

American Gas - June 2012
Contents
President’s Message
In the Know
In the News
Safety First
Fueling Progress
2012 AGA Membership Directory
Places to Be
Noteworthies
Advertisers’ Index
Jobline
Marketplace
Facts on Gas

American Gas - June 2012