AGA's NEW CHAIRMAN SKAINS POSES PRIORITIES FOR GAS DISTRIBUTORS AND CUSTOMERS BASED ON LONGER TERM STRATEGIES FACTORING IN PRICE VOLATILITY,CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND GREEN LEGISLATION

摘要

The new chairman(for a year)of the American Gas Association(AGA),Thomas Skains, told reporters last week that the group will be emphasizing natural gas infrastructure development at local and interstate levels as the Barack Obama administration gears up to assume power.Skains is also the chairman,president and chief executive office of Piedmont Natural Gas Co.Inc.He suggested the United States is experiencing a"huge shift"in its energy and environmental policies.Funding pipeline repair and infrastructure replacement,and siting expansions,will vie for the attention of utilities and regulators even as natural gas assumes a higher profile in the anticipated debate over climate change legislation next year.