Like generations before us, we are all committed to leaving a better world to our children and grandchildren. But today’s politically charged environment often complicates discussions on aspirational goals that ignore the realities of what it will take to get there.
Lost amidst the debate on what we should be striving for to address climate change—and by when—are the practical implications for today’s energy system. We certainly cannot throw out everything we have built over the past two centuries and start over. The sensible thing would be to expand upon what works—using our abundant energy resources to grow the economy, innovate new technologies and further the environmental gains we have made. Any realistic plan to move toward a cleaner energy future must consider the needs of American families and the underpinnings of our nation’s economy.
So, let’s look at some facts.
Emissions from the natural gas distribution system have declined 73 percent since 1990. In that time, we have added nearly 760,000 miles of distribution mains and services to serve 20 million more customers. More Americans use natural gas than ever before. Yet each individual home and business is far more efficient due to tighter-fitting windows and doors, better insulation, the development of increasingly more efficient natural gas appliances, and $1.49 billion spent annually by utilities on energy efficiency programs. In 2016 alone, utilities helped customers offset 12.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Affordable natural gas prices have led to $105 billion in savings for American businesses since 2009. Households that use natural gas for heating, cooking and clothes drying see an average savings of $874 per year compared to homes that use electricity for those appliances. This is particularly important for low-income communities and people on fixed incomes. Low heating prices during harsh winter months also help save lives. In fact, affordable natural gas prices avert 11,000 winter deaths per year in the United States, according to a paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research. And new technologies are making natural gas safer and cleaner. We can continue this progress and prosperity by deploying existing technologies, making them more widely available to consumers, and investing in research and development to continue to improve upon these innovations.
But that only scratches the surface of the role that America’s natural gas utilities play in lifting up this nation. In this issue of American Gas, we chronicle the myriad ways in which American Gas Association members play an active role in improving the lives of their customers above and beyond delivering essential energy. Our members provide hundreds of well-paying jobs that offer tremendous satisfaction and opportunities for growth and advancement. It is not uncommon to find utility employees who have worked at one company for more than 30 years. We train people to do their jobs, keep their skills up to date with the latest best practices and tools, and we also retrain them to take advantage of new opportunities. Also, AGA members are heavily invested in producing a 21st-century workforce—funding programs in education from middle school through technical school and post-graduate programs in engineering. This ongoing effort will help ensure that the natural gas delivery system of the future will be operated by a diverse and motivated workforce. Finally, natural gas utility workers are invested in their communities, giving generously of their time and resources to care for their neighbors. In these pages, you can read about programs sponsored by our members to better their corner of the world.
We can move forward in united purpose by focusing on our common ground rather than on what divides us. The benefits of natural gas are undeniable, making it a foundation that we can build upon. The commitment of America’s natural gas utilities to our communities and our planet is sincere and evident, and that is something we should all agree upon.
President and CEO