Putting Pedal to the Metal—But Will Natural Gas Hit a Brick Wall?

Recent infrastructure projects have faced opposition from a wide and varied group of known and also previously unknown special interests.  Specifically, small but vocal groups have voiced opposition to projects ranging from LNG export terminals to new gas pipeline construction.  Regulators and legislators alike have discovered that this new environment requires careful navigation and an uptick in procedural elements before regulators and court challenges as well.   One such case study in New England saw the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court  denying the state PUC’s authorization for electric distribution companies to procure available gas capacity in an effort to  secure a low-cost, more reliable natural gas supply for electric generation.  The Court’s decision has wide ranging implications for Massachusetts and the region.  Given this dynamic, and the trend it seems to indicate, is it possible to develop, permit and construct major new natural gas infrastructure projects? What, if anything, can the pipeline industry, end-user utilities, state regulators, FERC, and other regional, state and federal stakeholders do to facilitate safe and reasonable development of critical industry in today's climate where even legally permitted projects are being successfully blocked from construction? Is additional pipeline capacity needed as a backstop for the development of renewable energy and to allow customers heating their homes with oil to shift to natural gas?

Moderators:
Hon. Stan Wise, Georgia

Hon. Diane X. Burman, New York

Panelists: 
Hon. Mark Vannoy, Chairman Maine PUC 

Richard Kruse, V.P. Regulatory and FERC Compliance Officer, Spectra Energy 

Dena Wiggins, President, Natural Gas Supply Association 

Julien Dumoulin-Smith, Executive Director, Electric Utilities, UBS Investment Research, UBS Securities LLC

Kevin Reilly,  LIUNA International, Construction Department

Tony Clark, Former FERC Commissioner

Business Meeting, Committee on Gas

Chairs:
Hon. Stan WIse, Georgia

Hon. DIane X. Burman, New York

Hon. Julie Fedorchak, N. Dakota

Agenda:

• Approval of minutes of the July 2016 Meeting
• Discussion on possible honorary resolutions
• Other business as may come before the committee

The Future of Gas: Synergies Between Natural Gas and Renewable Generation

While the “utility of the future” gets a lot of attention on the electric side of the industry, the gas sector nationwide represents several possibilities in terms of distribution, retail services, and customer choice. Grid operators are seeing a significant increase in variable renewable energy resources, reaching 30 to 40% of demand at times in some regions (ERCOT for example). This variability can cause reliability issues and grid stability problems. Natural gas generation is a good complement to variable energy as NG generation is flexible and can quickly cycle up and down. More renewable, variable energy on the grid will lead to the need for more gas generation to maintain stability.This panel will discuss the unique perspective of the gas industry as it relates to the future of the utility and how synergies exist between natural gas and renewable generation and how to work to coordinate the two.

Moderators:
Hon. Julie Fedorchak, N. Dakota

Hon. Sherina Maye Edwards, Illinois

Panelists:
Larry Godlasky, Director, Government Affairs, UGI Energy Services, LLC

Dr. Ira H. Shavel, Principal, The Brattle Group

Paul DeCotis, West Monroe

Ralph LaRossa, President and COO, Public Service Electric & Gas

William Siderewicz, Clean Energy Future (invited)

Kenan Ogelman, VP Commercial Operations, Electric Reliability Council of Texas