Earlier in November, APGA staff traveled to Houston to participate in the Pipeline Leadership Conference. This event includes a variety of panels and speakers specifically chosen to highlight effective innovations and leadership efforts. Attendees include senior leaders from pipeline operators and local distribution companies, as well as from service companies, like engineering and construction firms plus select equipment manufacturers. This is the eighth year of the event, which is also an opportunity to recognize a single company or individual with the Pipeline Leadership Award.
APGA staff led a panel of members, including James Burnside of CPS Energy, Chris Coan of the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, and Erik Versen of NeuFuel, which is a business division of Ingevity. Their session discussed sustainability endeavors particularly how renewable natural gas (RNG) is being utilized. James spoke to CPS Energy’s efforts to inject RNG into their system, and Chris shared how the public utility members in Georgia are looking to this fuel as a supplement to geologic natural gas. Erik discussed the solutions NeuFuel is working on, partnering with the local public gas utility, to provide carbon-neutral offerings for communities. In addition, there was robust conversation on public policies and their impact, good and bad, on RNG production and distribution.
This panel afforded good conversation between APGA staff, members, and others in the pipeline industry, and the discussion was well received. APGA will continue to work to have future opportunities to highlight other sustainability efforts of public gas utilities.
For question on this article, please contact Stuart Saulters of APGA staff by phone at 202-544-1334 or by email at
ssaulters@apga.org.