WASHINGTON, D.C. – As policy makers focus their attention this week on growing U.S. natural gas supplies as well as concerns over “fracking” methods used to produce shale gas, the Progressive Policy Institute will release a new policy paper on natural gas and host a high-profile forum on Thursday, July 21 at 10 a.m. convening leaders from the White House, Congress, the natural gas industry, the manufacturing sector, and the environmental community.
Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Heather Zichal, U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Penn.), and President of the American Gas Association David McCurdy will join the Progressive Policy Institute for the timely public forum and discussion.
“Natural Gas Reconsidered,” PPI’s new policy memo, examines how recent technological innovations have changed the supply picture for natural gas as a domestic energy resource, and looks at the implications of this supply “windfall” for the industry, policy makers, and the job-starved U.S. economy. “Recent discoveries of enormous gas reserves in the United States offer a very different vision for the future of natural gas,” writes Cooper. “It no longer makes sense to treat natural gas as just another dirty fossil fuel that the United States should stop burning as soon as we can find a feasible replacement.”
In addition to the three speakers, the forum will feature an all-star roundtable discussion headed by Roger Cooper, the author of the new PPI paper; along with Vello Kuuskraa, President of Advanced Resources Inc.; Amy Mall of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Peter Molinaro of the Dow Chemical Company; and Peter Robertson of America’s Natural Gas Alliance. Moderating the discussion will be Greenwire Energy Reporter Mike Soraghan.
As part of this discussion among key stakeholders, Kuuskraa will also introduce a new “Sustainable Shale Gas Development Initiative” that will identify ten immediate steps the industry can take to address environmental concerns in advance of any potential regulations by federal and state agencies.
WHO
The Honorable Jason Altmire, U.S. Representative (D-Penn.)
Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
David McCurdy, , President of the American Gas Association
Roundtable Particpants:
Roger Cooper, Principal, Cleveland Park Policy Consulting
Vello Kuuskraa, President, Advanced Resources Inc.
Amy Mall, Senior Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Defense Council
Peter Molinaro, Vice President, Federal and State Government Affairs, The Dow Chemical Company
Peter Robertson, Senior Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, America’s Natural Gas Alliance
Moderated by: Mike Soraghan, Energy Reporter, Greenwire
WHEN
Thursday, July 21, 2011
9:30 a.m.: Camera pre-set
9:30–10 a.m.: Guest check-in and registration
10 a.m.–11:45 a.m.: Event
-Opening Remarks:
Heather Zichal
Rep. Jason Altmire
David McCurdy
-Panel Discussion:
Cooper, Kuuskraa, Mall, Molinaro, and Robertson
WHERE
National Press Club, Zenger Room, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC
MEDIA COVERAGE
The event is open to the press. All participants will be available to answer questions from the media. Media in attendance are required to register in advance of the event to Steven Chlapecka at 202.525.3931 or schlapecka@ppionline.org.
For further questions, please contact Steven Chlapecka at schlapecka@ppionline.org, 202.525.3931 (office), 202.556.1752 (cell).
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