2024 Agenda

Marcie Milner, the regulatory head for Shell’s gas and power trading business in the Americas, welcomes attendees to the LDC Gas Forums in San Diego, highlights Shell’s significant presence in the region and sets the stage for engaging discussions about the future of the gas industry.

Brief overview of Kinder Morgan, Macro and West Region Trends, Energy Transition Trends and Themes, and Data Center Power Demand.

Power generators and electric utilities have made considerable progress in reducing emissions in western North America in recent years. Thanks in part to the increasing contribution of renewable generation, phasing out of coal fired generation, and, most importantly, the support from natural gas fired generation. This trend coupled with load growth from gas utilities, and changes in demand consumption patterns, requires both changes in gas infrastructure utilization and the addition of new infrastructure to meet power demand while maintaining reliability. Scott Smith, President of Spire Midstream, will discuss the implications from this trend as well as broader impacts to natural gas infrastructure costs and market trends.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the elimination of fossil fuels (including natural gas), in favor of an all renewables energy future, is simply unachievable in the near term and would result in high priced and unreliable energy for consumers. This panel examines how natural gas is not the problem, but is really part of the solution. Discussion will focus on innovative opportunities that are readily available, that leverage natural gas to provide solutions to the challenge of creating an energy mix that is reliable, sustainable and affordable, while at the same time reducing carbon content and emissions.

Please join our hosts, the Corporate Sponsors, at a cocktail reception in your honor. Don’t make your dinner plans too early as hors d’oeuvres and an open bar will be the highlight of this extremely well attended session!

Rising natural gas production has kept storage levels high and driven down prices. How is the market adjusting? We will discuss the recent winter withdrawal season, and how the summer injection season is progressing. We will touch on high level themes including weather, LNG, and renewables that will influence the market this season and into the future.

A hallmark of the LDC Gas Forums is the excellent content obtained over the course of the event. However, at times, the sheer volume and complexity of the data underlying the content can be overwhelming. Equally valuable as the data itself accompanying analysis (insight, analysis, interpretation and forecasts). This Panel, comprised of leading industry expert analysts, will offer a thorough review of topical and timely market conditions, while incorporating their expert analysis and predictions. The objective is for the audience gain an appreciation for the “so whats” and come away with a better understanding of root causes for various market conditions.

End-Use Consumers of natural gas are different. They are not the same as other stakeholders along the natural gas value chain. These entities serve the customers who are the ultimate consumers of the commodity. They include Gas Distribution Utilities (Industrial, Commercial, Residential), large Industrial entities (Petrochem, Process, Heat) and Electric Generators powered by natural gas. Due to their unique situation, End-Use Consumers often have different perspectives than other stakeholders when it comes to market conditions, industry developments and issues, supply, infrastructure, regulation and policy. End-Use Consumers may be regulated or unregulated, but they all exist at the end of the value chain. They are often left having to react to market developments that are out of their control, with limited flexibility, but an unfailing requirement to meet the demand of their customers. Creative negotiation of commercial purchasing terms is vital to ensuring security of supply and competitive commodity pricing. This Panel will explore End-Use Consumers perspectives on a variety of topical and timely issues facing natural gas markets today and in the near future. Issue categories include:

Assessment of current fundamental market conditions (Supply, Demand, Pricing)
Preferences for structuring of ideal gas supply arrangements
“Energy Transition” implications, including low-carbon alternatives
Midstream infrastructure capabilities (constraints, new projects, alternatives)
Regulatory implications and planning (PUC, IRPs, etc.)
Policy influences (Local, State, Federal)