This issue of American Gas includes a tribute to one of my predecessors, George H. “Bud” Lawrence, who was the American Gas Association president from 1976 to 1990. Bud passed away in November at the age of 91. A fellow Oklahoman, Bud was a tireless advocate for our industry.
Bud was AGA president the last time the World Gas Conference came to the United States in 1988. It had been 33 years since we had hosted the premiere international gathering of our industry, and President Ronald Reagan spoke at the event. I am proud to say that the United States will once again host the World Gas Conference on June 25–29, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
Bud understood the relationship between government and industry and deftly navigated legislative and regulatory landscapes to fight for the needs of natural gas utilities and their customers. As our tribute notes, he was known for forging consensus, even with former opponents, and he left the industry far more unified than he found it. He was immensely proud of the strength of the natural gas industry today, and he is greatly missed.
As our Chair Pierce Norton keeps reminding us, we need to build on the strength of our industry with great urgency. At this critical time, we are fortunate to have the leadership of Commissioner Robert Powelson from Pennsylvania, who is president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in 2017. As you can see from his interview in this issue, he has a keen grasp of the role that energy plays in the lives of our citizens, and the role that it can play in boosting our nation’s economy. I encourage you to read his comments about infrastructure, investment and innovation, which read like a blueprint for how natural gas utilities will play a role in lifting up our nation. I appreciate his thoughtful analysis and look forward to working with him this year.
In the reinvigoration of our economy and the creation of jobs, NARUC and AGA have a common cause with the new administration and the American people. Our efforts to modernize our nation’s infrastructure and extend it to reach more homes and businesses have set the stage for a record-breaking period of infrastructure investment. As we explore in this issue of American Gas, there are many natural gas utility and contractor jobs that will need to be filled, and we must cultivate the talent to meet this demand. To address these challenges, AGA has established the Workforce Development Task Force. This is the continuation of the vision of 2016 Chair Ralph LaRossa and plays a key role in the strategic plan led by our 2017 Chair Pierce Norton.
I am privileged to continue Bud Lawrence’s work and to be joined on this journey by leaders like Pierce, Ralph and Robert. These individuals understand the essential link among the men and women who make this country great, their energy choices and the strategic vision for moving this nation forward. The American people need to be a part of that vision, and as trusted members of their communities, natural gas utilities are in a unique position to lead this charge. We have a history to be proud of, a future to look forward to and a plan to get us all there.
President and CEO, dmccurdy@aga.org