Agenda – 2021

Echols, an 11-year elected regulator in Georgia, talks about why natural gas is a superior fuel for generating electricity. He explains why states that are banning methane are making a huge mistake and hurting both ratepayers and resiliency. Echols is all-in on RNG and will explain why the time is right for gas companies to make the investments needed to harness RNG and its many sources. Finally, Echols shares his personal experience in driving a CNG Honda for his first two years in office and the range anxiety he suffered from it.

This presentation will address the legislative and regulatory issues the direct use of natural gas is facing at the local, state and federal level as well as the impact of Storm Uri on public gas systems.

Following the Texas Power Grid crash in February, we saw a Texas-sized shoot out of finger pointing. There is a disconnect in the narrative on energy: reality vs. aspiration, resilience vs. fragility. This presentation provides a factual account of what led up to the power grid failures and the reality of why natural gas is the only practical solution to avoid recurrence.

Investor-owned utilities are under increasing pressure by investors to be more environmentally-friendly, sustainable, and ‘green’. Electric utilities offer ‘renewable’ solar and wind products to rate-payers; however most natural gas utilities aren’t offering similar products. Environmentally sensitive PUCs and environment groups are looking to LDCs to provide a ‘green’ solution. This session provides insights to regulatory and legislative drivers behind renewable natural gas and outlines solutions LDCs can implement to offer renewable products to end-users or reduce CO2 emissions. Different types of RNG will be explained, domestic/global demand overviews provided, supply outlook and price-points discussed, and ways LDCs can participate in the RNG market.