1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Staff Subcommittee on Gas

View Presentations 

Renaissance West B

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

LDC Expansion
As States are looking into the appropriate process for extending gas LDC distribution systems to take advantage of the benefits associated with natural gas consumption, the discussion always comes back to the ratemaking treatment of costs. Oregon, like many other States is currently tackling the topic. The panel will address experiences both from the LDC and the commission perspective and get an update on the various efforts.

Moderators:
Lisa Gorsuch, Oregon
Andreas Thanos, Massachusetts
Panelists:
Bill Senter, VP Rates and Regulatory Affairs, Atmos Energy
Michael Fessler, Director Regulatory Affairs, UGI Utilities
Ken Costello, Principal Researcher, National Regulatory Research Institute
TBA

2:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.

LNG Updates
Dominion continues to face opposition from environmental groups. This presentation, co-sponsored by the NARUC LNG Working Group, will provide an update on LNG-related matters, including a construction status report by Dominion and an LNG market update.

Panelist: Bill Allen, Manager, Commercial Activities, Dominion Cove Point

2:20 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.

Sustainable Energy in America Factbook
A presentation by the Business Council for Sustainable Development on the 2016 Factbook produced by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Panelist: Ruth McCormick, Director Federal and State Affairs, Business Council for Sustainable Development

2:50 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Natural Gas Outlook
API will present on production trends, pricing and demand markets (ANGA merged into API effective January 1, 2016).

Panelist: Amy Farrell, Senior Director Market Development, American Petroleum Institute

3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Future of Israel's Natural Gas Infrastructure
(JOINT MEETING with Committee on International Relations and Gas)
Israel has, for many years, been considered an "energy island.” Until recently, Israel relied primarily on imported coal to fuel its base load electric power generation. Recently, Israel has discovered large offshore domestic natural gas deposits. Can and should Israel shift away from its current energy structure to more reliance on both imported and domestic natural gas as a way to meet future demand for electricity for its growing economy? Israel will need to make smart natural gas investment decisions in the near future while considering likely future levels of demand, the costs and availability of sources of fuel supply, security of fuel supply, future development of alternative technologies, reliability, environmental effects, and land use. This panel will explore the history and current state of natural gas in Israel.

Moderator: Hon. Diane Burman, New York
Panelists:
William F. Hederman, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, U. S. Department of Energy
Brenda Shaffer, Visiting Professor, Georgetown University
Barry Smitherman, Partner, Vinson & Elkins
Nick Welch, Director, International Government Relations and Communications, Noble Energy, Inc.

10:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Committee on Gas

View Presentations 

Congressional Ballroom

10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Can You Dig It?
America's natural gas pipeline network consists of 320,000 miles of gas transmission pipelines and more than two million miles of gas distribution lines. In today's market, the vast majority of pipeline construction work is contracted out, highlighting the increasingly important role played by gas utility contractors across the country. Recognizing that excavation damage continues to be the largest single cause of gas pipeline incidents, the importance of participation in the one-call and damage prevention process cannot be overstated. Do exemptions to this process compromise safety? Should ALL stakeholders have a responsibility for effective damage prevention? This panel will look at the issue of damage prevention from the perspective of the nation’s gas pipeline contractors. The discussion will focus on the training of personnel working in the field; post-construction inspections; horizontal/directional drilling and other trenchless excavation methods; and how ongoing threats to underground gas utilities are addressed in the field.

Moderator: Hon. Paul Roberti, Rhode Island
Panelists:
Daryl Bouwkamp, Senior Director Int’l Business Development & Gov’t Affairs, Vermeer Corporation
Steve Canestrini, Operator Qualifications Manager, INTREN, Inc.
Brad Heck, Director of Compliance, Miller Pipeline

1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Maintaining Natural Gas System Safety and Integrity
Natural gas utilities and transmission pipeline operators are continually working to improve safety and enhance the integrity and reliability of their systems. They are doing this by using state-of-the art technology as well as accelerating the replacement of pipelines no longer fit for service. This session will feature an interactive demonstration of Columbia Pipeline Group’s innovative “Intelligent Pipeline Solution” developed by GE and Accenture and a report on the current pipeline replacement efforts and trends across the country. We will discuss the appropriate management required for accelerated pipeline replacement programs. We will listen to the gas producer perspective on best management practices in the upstream arena. We will learn about how innovative technologies can provide pipeline safety and integrity opportunities.

Moderators:
Hon. Stan Wise, Georgia
Hon. Diane X. Burman, New York
Panelists:
Eduardo Balbis, Managing Director, Accenture Strategy
Cheryl Campbell, Senior V.P. Gas Xcel Energy
Daphne D'Zurko, Executive Director, NYSEARCH and VP RD&D, Northeast Gas Association
Hon. Sherina Maye Edwards, Illinois
Erik Milto, Group Director, Upstream & Industry Operations at API

2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Natural Gas CEO Wellhead to Burner Tip Panel
A frank discussion with natural gas company CEOs, delving into the important and challenging issues that the natural gas industry is facing today.

Moderators:
Hon. Stan Wise, Georgia
Panelists:
Ralph LaRossa, President & COO, Public Service Electric and Gas and Chairman of the AGA Board
Steve Mueller, Chairman of the Board, Southwestern
Donald Santa, President and CEO, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Natural Gas Pipeline Siting-Easy, Right?
(JOINT MEETING with the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment)
The volume of natural gas that is being produced in the United States has increased exponentially from a previous record of 22,647,549 Mcf in 1973 to 27,336,644 Mcf in 2014. At the same time, consumption of natural gas by various sectors, including the energy sector, has also increased to 26,698,068 Mcf in 2014 and will likely continue to increase with implementation of the CPP. While consumption increases, there is a growing recognition that there is insufficient pipeline infrastructure to move the resource to areas of need. The pipeline siting process, regardless of whether the pipe is intrastate subject to State Commission jurisdiction or interstate under FERC jurisdiction, often becomes contentious, drawing concerns from a variety of fronts on issues ranging from property rights to impacts to sensitive environmental areas to emissions from pipeline activities.

Moderators:
Hon. Pamela Witmer, Pennsylvania
Panelists:
Hon. Tony Clark, FERC
Hon. Dianne Solomon, New Jersey
Sharon Buccino, Director, Land and Wildlife Program, NRDC
Allen Fore, Vice President, Public Affairs, Kinder Morgan

10:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Committee on Gas

View Presentations 

Congressional Ballroom

10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Reliability and Regional Coordination in Changing Gas and Electric Markets
Many natural gas-fired electricity generating units in the Midwest and the Northeast could not meet their commitments to produce energy in the last two winters because they could not obtain the fuel they needed to run. These types of fuel-related outages are particularly concerning because the electric industry’s reliance on gas-fired generation is on the rise due to the low gas prices ushered in by the shale-drilling boom and stringent environmental regulations affecting coal-fired power plants. How have the electric and gas and industries, State and federal regulators and RTOs/ISOs responded to these challenges, and what, if anything, should they do differently going forward? Electric/Gas Coordination Panel will focus on three buckets: (A) Reliability, (B) Regional Coordination, and (C) Adaptation to Change.

Moderator: Hon. Diane X. Burman, New York
Panelists:
Philip Moeller, Senior Vice President, Edison Electric Institute; Former FERC Commissioner
Michelle A. Bloodworth, Executive Director, External Affairs MISO
Richard Smead, Managing Director Advisory Services, RBN Energy, LLC
Matt Paul, Executive Director, Generation Optimization and Corporate Fuel Supply, DTE Energy

2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

The Evolution of Hydraulic Fracturing
The technology of Hydraulic Fracturing (“fracking”) was introduced several decades ago. Yet, in recent years we have seen the debate over this technology continue and, sometimes, intensify. This intensity begs for continuing an open and frank discussions about fracking. The participants of this panel will discuss fracking from different viewpoints including economic, environmental and social considerations.

Moderator: Hon. Jolette Westbrook, Massachusetts
Panelists:
Hon. Robert Anthony, Oklahoma
Rick Simmers, Chief Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas (invited)
Jim Tramuto, Vice President - Governmental & Regulatory Strategies, Southwestern Energy, representing the Natural Gas Supply Association
Andrew Williams, Environmental Defense Fund

4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

“In God We Trust, All Others Must Bring Data.” William Deming
(JOINT MEETING with the Committee on Critical Infrastructure)
We need data for almost everything we do as regulators. But how do we protect and take control of our data? It is not just retailers and banks who are at risk. How can gas utilities and operators maintain proper safeguards of customer data, SCADA access, and operational control?

Moderators:
Hon. Dianne Solomon, New Jersey
Hon. Nick Wagner, Iowa
Panelists:
Magnus Borg, Nisource
John Bryk, DNG-ISAC
Mark Dowd, InfoGPS Networks
Brad Merlie, Piedmont Natural Gas
Adam Sedgewick, NIST