Natural gas utilities work to get this message out through bill inserts, social media, local newspapers, and TV and radio stations, especially during NSDM. Some have found even more creative ways to spread the word to the public. Alliant Energy lit up the Iowa night sky with their safety message, illuminating the building windows with 811. At 21 floors high, Alliant Energy’s building is the tallest in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, making it a prime location for this important message.

Piedmont Natural Gas in North Carolina teamed up with local Girl Scouts, as well as a neighborhood hardware and garden store for a day of “tree tagging” to remind gardeners to call 811 before they begin spring projects. The Girl Scouts worked with the manager of The Gardens of Blackhawk Hardware to tag trees and shrubs with 811 notices.

 And Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in California is spearheading efforts to set up 811 Task Forces with local emergency responders and other key partners to develop coordinated and proactive efforts to address excavation damage and raise awareness. This month, PG&E has also conducted emergency responder trainings for local fire, police and emergency service departments.

There are many ways for you to get involved with NSDM too. There’s still time to try your luck with the Call 811 Campaign’s “Can You Dig It?” online game. Great prizes for the lucky winners include an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire HD, Apple TV, gift cards and more. So check out the game, and remember to tell friends and family to make the 811 Promise.

And if you are doing something to raise awareness about safe digging, let us know in the comments below.

On hand for the announcement (pictured left to right) were David Carroll, President of the Gas Technology Institute; Dave McCurdy, President and CEO of AGA; David McClanahan, President and CEO of CenterPoint Energy; and Eloise Dunn Stuhr, Vice President and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement with the University of Houston and UH System.

“Natural gas is the foundation fuel for a clean and secure energy future and an economic revitalization for our country,” said McCurdy. “Our commitment will help ensure the continued vitality of the American workforce and solidify the legacy of this transformation in American energy.”

A recent survey revealed that nearly 50 percent of the energy sector is experiencing a gap in the skills of its work force in mission critical areas such as engineering and skill trade.

Students seeking a career in trade jobs that are in high demand in the natural gas industry including HVAC, Welding, Pipefitters, Mechanical/Petroleum/Chemical Engineering, Engineering Technologies/Technicians, and specific natural gas programs such as Gas Utility Construction and Service will be eligible for the scholarship. It is anticipated that more than 200 students will receive scholarships over the next five years.

Students at the schools outlined below will be selected to participate. We are so excited to share this great news and look forward to sharing more with you as the students are selected.

Baton Rouge Community College; Baton Rouge, LA
Bishop State Community College; Mobile, AL
Bismarck State College; Bismarck ND
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Pomona, CA
Central Piedmont Community College; Charlotte, NC
City Colleges of Chicago; Chicago, IL
Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
Colorado School of Mines; Golden, CO
Erie Community College; Buffalo, NY
Gwinnett Technical College; Lawrenceville, GA
International School of Hydrocarbon Measurement; Norman, OK
Ivy Tech Community College; Terre Haute, IN
Kilgore College; Kilgore, TX
Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT); Beaumont, TX
Los Angeles Trade–Technical College; Los Angeles, CA
Marshalltown Community College; Marshalltown, IA
Monroe Community College; Rochester, NY
Northeast Iowa Community College; Calmar, IA
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College; Green Bay, WI
Northern Virginia Community College; Annandale, VA
Pennsylvania College of Technology; Williamsport, PA
Salt Lake Community College; Salt Lake City, UT
Stevens Institute of Technology; Hoboken, NJ
University of Houston, Houston; TX
West Virginia University; Morgantown, WV
Westmoreland County Community College; Youngwood, PA

AGA staff welcome delegates to LNG 17.

Day 2 of the conference began with keynote speaker Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman of IHS and Founder of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates, addressing the global outlook for LNG.

Yergin said he is “very optimistic for the global gas market” forecasting 620 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) of demand by 2040. Through the advances in technology and infrastructure, North America is changing the face of the LNG industry.

In an interview with the KUHF Houston Public Radio, AGA President and CEO Dave McCurdy noted that with this success there are many challenges and opportunities ahead for the LNG industry.

“At the time when AGA secured the bid to host LNG17, the U.S. was the largest importer on LNG and just six years later, our country is now the largest producer and considering exporting natural gas,” said McCurdy. “We’ve gone from an age and an era of scarcity in the supply of natural gas to one of abundance.”

After the morning’s sessions, I took a stroll around the 250,000 sq. feet of exhibition space.  Each of the 350 exhibitors’ booths were stunning and unique in their own way. I was especially drawn to the vendors with two-story structures and neon lights, something I had not seen at my first trade experience during the International Builders Show.

Out of everything I saw on the exhibit floor my favorite two attractions were the natural gas refueling station by Clean Energy and the CNG heavy-duty truck by Westport. I look forward to the day when I see more of these along the highways of America!

Stay tuned to AGA’s Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as this blog for exciting news from AGA regarding our LNG legacy scholarship fund.

The 17th International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG 17) kicked off yesterday, attracting a record-setting 5,000 delegates from 75 countries to Houston, TX. Hosted by the American Gas Association (AGA), LNG 17 has brought strategic and commercial leaders and technical experts together for four days of sessions, workshops and tours of world-leading facilities.

Steering Committee Chairman David Carroll welcomes LNG17 delegates to the opening ceremony.

The day began with a lively opening ceremony emceed by LNG 17 Steering Committee Chairman David Carroll and included guest speakers Andy Brown, Upstream International Director, Shell; Nobuo Tanaka, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan; The Hon. Martin Ferguson, Resources and Energy & Minister for Tourism, Australian Government; and Christopher Smith, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy.

Following the opening ceremony, delegates began to file into the 250,000 sq. ft. exhibition space and were immediately greeted by the AGA Welcome Booth featuring natural gas industry experts, information and literature about the industry, and even custom designed cowboy boots – much to everyone’s delight!

AGA executives pose with distinguished leaders at the AGA Welcome Booth.

Yesterday’s spotlight session, Global Strategy Forum, was much anticipated and provided a global and strategic outlook of the LNG industry through the eyes of natural gas leaders from Engas, Petrobras, CNPC, ExxonMobile, Chevron, RasGas Company Limited. Many panel participants emphasized the importance of collaboration between producers and suppliers in order to maximize the use and impact of LNG across the globe.

“The future looks bright for our industry and it is important that we all work together,” said Richard Guerrant, Vice President of ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing.

Day one of LNG 17 came to a close with a special performance by country singer Dale Watson inside AGA’s Welcome Stand followed by an opening reception at Minute Maid Park, home to the Houston Astros. Houston and its residents certainly know how to host a great event!

The opening reception was held at Minute Maid Park, home to the Houston Astros. “LNG17 & Shell Welcome You!”

AGA will be livetweeting from spotlight sessions and forums throughout the week from our Twitter handle, @aga_naturalgas. Be sure to follow along for the latest LNG 17 headlines, including AGA’s special announcement of our commitment to developing the natural gas workforce on Thursday.

LIHEAP Action Day participants Mark Burger, CEDA; Marsha Belcher, CEDA & NFFN board chair; Congresswoman Cheri Bustos; Cynthia Thomas, ComEd; and Mary Streett, Exelon. Photo Courtesy: NFFN

Nearly 115 utility, fuel fund and low-income energy assistance advocates met with Congressional delegates and their staff and, for the first time, utilized social media campaigns on Facebook and Twitter using hashtag #LIHEAPAction, advocating for $4.7 billion in LIHEAP funding for FY2014.

After many years of underfunding LIHEAP, Congress funded the program at $5.1 billion in FY2009 and FY2010. Since then, funding has been cut drastically from $4.7 billion in FY2011 to less than $3.5 billion for the current fiscal year. These funding cuts have resulted in smaller assistance grants and fewer households served, severely limiting the program’s effectiveness.

There are many reasons why the LIHEAP program is so critical. Here are just a few:

• About 46.2 million people live in poverty – the largest number in the 52-year history of published poverty estimates.
• A recent study found that more than half of U.S. households now devote more than 20 percent of their family budget towards energy costs.
• LIHEAP supports veterans and seniors. The number of veteran households served by LIHEAP increased by more than 150 percent over three years. Roughly 40 percent of LIHEAP recipients are seniors.
• Roughly 75 percent of households receiving assistance earn less than $15,000 a year and 50 percent earn less than $10,000 a year.
• Almost all recipient households support someone who is disabled, elderly, or have a child under six.
• Infants and toddlers living in inadequately heated or cooled households are at greater risk of serious developmental health problems.

“AGA wants every American to have access to the benefits of clean, domestic natural gas,” said AGA President and CEO Dave McCurdy. “No one should need to choose between heating or cooling their home and other basic human needs. Utilities are providing help with bill payments and home weatherization, and are sponsoring fundraising efforts. We are proud of our member companies’ dedication in helping to ensure that vulnerable customers are able to meet their energy needs.”

The NFFN awarded Senator Mary Landrieu with its “Extra Mile” award. Photo Courtesy: NFFN

LIHEAP Action Day ended with an evening reception and the presentation of the NFFN Extra Mile award given to Senator Mary, recognizing her for her continued support.

What if I told you I had the secret to preventing most pipeline damage and accidents – the secret to saving lives and property? What if I told you that secret was as easy as dialing three numbers?

No, this is not an April Fool’s trick. It’s Call before You Dig, the very serious message being promoted this month by utilities and safety advocates across the country, coordinated by the Common Ground Alliance. The process is simple – before you start ANY digging project, dial 811 to make sure you know where your underground utility lines are. Both the call and the service are free.

Excavation damage is the leading cause of pipeline incidents in the United States. A pipeline is damaged once every eight minutes due to digging and construction activity, most of which could have been prevented if diggers followed proper protocol. Damage can result in power outages, expensive repairs and even loss of life. Safety is the American Gas Association’s (AGA) top priority, and we encourage you to help keep your friends and neighbors safe by spreading the word about safe digging.

Before you start any outdoor digging projects – even if it’s as simple as planting a tree or shrub, AGA and our members urge you to dial 811 to help ensure you avoid underground utility lines. By doing so, you’ll be connected to your local One Call Center, which will alert your local utility company. Crews will then locate any utility lines near your project and make sure they are properly marked so you can be sure to avoid them – all at no cost to you. It’s that simple. You can find out more about the process here.

Join AGA and our members across the country in observing National Safe Digging Month throughout the month of April. Here are three easy ways you can participate:

1. Make the 811 Promise and ask your friends and family to do the same.
2. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to see what your local gas utilities are doing to increase awareness in their communities, and spread the word to your followers.
3. Show your support by changing your social media profile pictures or banners to the Call 811 logo.

Pledge to make the 811 Promise. Call 811 before you dig, and ask your friends and family to do the same. Not doing so would just be…foolish.

Based on estimated representative average fuel unit costs published by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, AGA estimated the annual costs for natural gas furnaces and water heaters when compared to their propane, oil and electric counterparts.

Bottom line? When you choose a natural gas furnace, water heater or combination of the two, you can save anywhere from $300 to $1,200 per year.

These tables break it down for you by each appliance option. The analysis is based on a 2,072 square-foot house located in St. Louis, MO, and represents a 5,000 Heating Degree Location. For more detailed information on how these numbers were compiled, view AGA’s recent press release.

2013 Space Heating Annual Cost Summary
(Estimated Annual Operating Cost)

2013 Water Heating Annual Cost Summary
(Estimated Annual Operating Cost from Low to High)

2013 Space Heating with Water Heater Installations
(Estimated Annual Operating Cost from Low to High)

Every day, America’s local natural gas utilities safely and reliably deliver savings like this to their more than 71 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across the country. By providing access to the nation’s most affordable, efficient and clean domestically-produced energy source, AGA’s member companies are helping to realize a secure economic and energy future for our country.

On Friday, March 15, President Barack Obama stood in front of a row of alternative fuel vehicles, including a white Honda Civic Natural Gas Vehicle, at the Argonne National Laboratory and unveiled his plan for the Energy Security Trust.

“We can support scientists and engineers that are devising new ways to fuel our cars and trucks with new sources of clean energy – like advanced biofuels and natural gas – so drivers can one day go coast to coast without using a drop of oil,” the President said in his speech.

The proposed trust will expand alternative transportation fuels and shift American vehicles away from their reliance on foreign oil. The plan will provide $2 billion over 10 years, using revenue from federal oil and gas development, for research that focuses on developing cost-effective transportation alternatives, including domestically produced natural gas.

President Obama speaks in front of a stage of alternative fuel vehicles, including a white Honda Civic Natural Gas Vehicle, at the Argonne National Laboratory on Friday, March 15, 2013. The 2012 Honda CNG Civic GX was named one of the Kelly Blue Book 10 Best Green Cars of 2012.

In a White House factsheet, President Obama commits to leveraging our domestic abundance of natural gas by working with the private sector to grow the use of natural gas in the nation’s trucking fleet. Among other items, the plan includes the following measures that support NGV growth:

• Incentives for medium-and-heavy-duty trucks that run on natural gas or other alternative fuels.
• Providing a credit for 50 percent of the incremental cost of a dedicated alternative-fuel truck for a five-year period.
• Laboratories that use federal resources to develop different models for deploying advanced vehicles.

Kathryn Clay is the Executive Director of the Drive Natural Gas Initiative, a collaborative effort of natural gas utilities and producers to develop the use of clean, domestic, affordable natural gas as a transportation fuel.

“About two-thirds of U.S. oil consumption in the United States fuels the transportation sector, and over 70 percent of the oil we use is imported,” said Clay. “We have a nearly one hundred years supply of clean, abundant, domestic natural gas and it just makes sense to use that resource to fuel our cars, trucks and buses. The President’s remarks recognize the role that NGVs can play in boosting our national security, improving our environment and reducing fuel costs for our citizens.”

The American Gas Association  is thrilled to see the President voice his support for encouraging the growth of natural gas vehicles, which is already underway thanks to private sector investments to build fueling infrastructure across the country, encouraged by the low cost of natural gas.

Learn more about the Energy Security Trust in this White House Blog post, and view an infographic showing the role for NGVs in America’s secure energy future. You can also watch the full speech here.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released its annual GHG inventory public review draft, estimating that only 1.2 percent of produced natural gas is emitted to the atmosphere from wellhead to burner tip, and showing that leaks have been overestimated by more than 50 percent. Natural gas utilities invest billions of dollars each year on infrastructure to help ensure safe and reliable service. These continued investments will help decrease the level of emissions further.

Safe and reliable service is the natural gas utility industry’s business, and AGA is engaged with EPA, the Environmental Defense Fund and others to make sure we have the data we need to continue to safely and reliably serve the more than 177 million Americans who depend on this fuel for their energy needs. Researcher opinion and “snapshot measurements” are not enough. We must secure a common set of facts that allows for smart energy policy and sound decisions about our nation’s energy future.

Transitioning to a greater reliance on natural gas for electric power generation in the Northeast will require building additional natural gas pipeline infrastructure. To characterize that reality as a “trap” (“In New England, a Natural Gas Trap,” Feb. 16.) is inaccurate. Our nation has access to abundant supplies of natural gas and a robust network of 2.4 million miles of natural gas pipelines that reliably deliver this fuel. Until power generation markets appropriately incentivize continued infrastructure investments, New England will struggle to meet the growing energy needs in the region. These are unique regional challenges with regard to power generation that require regional solutions.

Natural gas utilities plan far in advance to help ensure they are prepared for the coldest day of the year every day of the year. They provide safe and reliable energy delivery to customers when they need it most, and the industry is working with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and others to help make sure there is a strategic energy plan in place that allows power generation customers to access the promises of natural gas with the same confidence as natural gas utility customers.