FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Audrey Casey
Communications and Marketing Director
American Public Gas Association (APGA)
Email: acasey@apga.org
APGA President Testifies Before House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
Washington, D.C. (April 7, 2022) – Today, Dave Schryver, president and CEO of the American Public Gas Association (APGA), representing approximately 1,000 communities across the United States that own and operate their retail natural gas distribution entities, testified before the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. In his written testimony, Schryver highlighted the need for Congress to prioritize an “all of the above energy policy,” pursuing solutions that invest in affordable, reliable, and efficient natural gas-fired appliances and the infrastructure required for the industry’s transition to a cleaner energy future.
“Natural gas has been delivering emission reductions in the energy sector for decades. With the development of the renewable natural gas industry and the potential of hydrogen, the gas industry can continue to deliver clean energy for American families in the future, utilizing our existing infrastructure and skilled workforce,” noted Schryver, as part of his testimony.
“Tremendous cost savings and emission reductions are associated with operating natural gas appliances in the home. APGA believes the Energy Star program should be revamped to include natural gas appliances,” expressed Schryver while also noting that the direct use of natural gas outperforms electricity in affordability, reliability, and energy efficiency.
- Natural gas saves customers an estimated $1,000 annually compared to customers who use all electric appliances.
- Due to the inherently secure nature of the underground pipeline network, only one in 800 natural gas customers experience an unplanned outage in a given year while electric customers experience an average of at least one outage on an annual basis.
- Natural gas is nearly three times more efficient when used directly in the home compared to electricity; when using electricity to power home appliances, almost two-thirds of the energy from the original source is used or lost before it ever reaches the electric outlet, versus less than ten percent for natural gas.
Speaking before the Committee, Schryver testified that Congress must preserve a role for natural gas if the United States is going to transition to a clean energy future without compromising reliability and imposing an unnecessary financial burden on American families. He urged lawmakers to prioritize solutions that leverage natural gas’s proven ability to deliver emission reductions and invest in the promise of emerging technologies like hydrogen and renewable natural gas to ensure affordable, clean, and reliable energy for future generations.
APGA is the only not-for-profit trade organization representing America's publicly owned natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs). APGA represents the interests of public gas before Congress, federal agencies and other energy-related stakeholders by developing regulatory and legislative policies that further the goals of our members. In addition, APGA organizes meetings, seminars, and workshops with a specific goal to improve the safety, reliability, operational efficiency, and regulatory environment in which public gas systems operate.