Domestic Natural Gas Utility supplies, that is. According to The American Gas Association’s (AGA) recent study, customers are greatly benefitting from the sustained, stable production of domestic natural gas.
According to the report, consumer’s bills could be between 40% and 70% higher today if supply-constrained 2006 natural gas prices persisted in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. “In the winter of 2005-2006, natural gas customers arguably faced the worst domestic supply situation since the late 1970’s,” the study states.
“The market uncertainty we’re seeing due to the turmoil in the Middle East has caused crude oil prices to soar, but natural gas prices continue to remain relatively low and stable, even with the sustained cold we have seen this winter season,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of AGA. “This is great news for all of our customers, from homeowners to small business owners to larger commercial manufacturers.”
The technology of Natural Gas extraction from shale formations has helped increase natural gas reserves 63 percent from 1990-2010. “We now estimate that total gas resources can meet current demand levels for at least 100 years,” said McCurdy. “And while increased utilities access and supplies have led to lower customer bills, we must work to ensure that there is an open and collaborative process that allows all segments of the industry to work with key stakeholders and regulators to bring natural gas from shale to market in a transparent and environmentally sound fashion.”
In a separate statement following President Obama’s support of the technology, Mr. McCurdy added that “Natural gas is the foundation fuel for our clean energy future, and with more than 100 years of supply readily available, and a safe and reliable delivery infrastructure already in place, we can put it to use right now to help us meet our energy challenges. New fuel economy and emissions standards will support a larger role for clean, efficient natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in securing America’s clean energy future. Fuel standards will rise to to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 and the administration’s national fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards for commercial trucks, vans and buses will help to cut oil use and further promote the increased deployment of NGVs.
The president’s commitment to the responsible development and use of domestic natural gas is also a step in the right direction. The safe, transparent production of America’s vast natural gas resources, particularly shale gas, should be a top priority for the industry and we are committed to working with all parties to ensure that happens.”
INGAA Foundation President Don Santa added, "Natural gas must be fully integrated with electricity from multiple sources, including renewables, to ensure a smart energy future. In achieving this vision, and implementing seamless communications and data management between the gas and electric infrastructure, we will make our energy system more reliable, safer and better able to manage peak demand.”
Like I said the U.S. has Natural Gas, and we know how to get more. Let’s make it work for us in every way possible right now!
We can do this!
By K.B. Elliott
K. B. Elliott is a freelance writer for UtilitesJobs.com. Working positions on both the corporate consumer and provider side of utilities in the Detroit area for over 30 years gives him a unique perspective on these 24/7 businesses. Read more of his blogs at UtilitiesJobsblog.com, and be sure to check out the postings for jobs in nearly any industry at Nexxt.
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