Constructive Policies Supporting Natural Gas Production

APGA’s membership is directly and indirectly affected by policies that have negative impacts on natural gas extraction, both onshore and offshore. Sufficient production of American resources is necessary for public gas systems to continue to provide efficient, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to their customers and support their communities, who need natural gas for cooking, clothes drying, and space and water heating, as well as for various commercial and industrial applications.

An APGA member’s access to sufficient American energy can support a town or city’s economic success, as the community-owned gas utility plays a critical role in business development. Prospective commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities desire reliable and affordable energy – attributes that natural gas can provide when available. These new businesses create jobs that encourage economic growth, which is paramount to a thriving community.

Public gas utilities are taking actions to encourage reduction of methane emissions by operators upstream of their systems. Initial conversations about certified gas and innovative emissions monitoring technology are underway with partners. Natural gas has been a big driver behind the declines in emissions in our country and continued use through responsible production onshore and offshore will continue to support these reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

As a critical link in the natural gas delivery supply chain, APGA advocates for policies that promote the leasing, exploration, and development of the nation’s natural gas resources in a responsible manner. Major advances in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technologies have made the extraction of unconventional gas more cost-effective than ever before. Development of these massive deposits, especially those on federal and tribal lands, has greatly improved access to our country’s abundant energy, allowing public gas utilities to provide energy to our communities, even in the face of international and domestic disruptions.