Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff has invited 32 groups to present their proposed solutions to the domestic natural gas supply shortfall at a conference to be held later this month.

Republican and Democratic committee staff reviewed submitted proposals and selected the 32 groups to offer 38 proposed solutions at an upcoming conference on Jan. 24, with five of the groups presenting more than one proposal. The conference, which will run from 1 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., will include six panels addressing various problems facing the gas industry.

The lead-off panel of the Natural Gas Council (NGC), Advanced Resources, National Ocean Industries Association, Western Organization of Resource Councils, New Mexico Oil & Gas Association, American Public Gas Association and the state of Alaska will discuss ways to increase domestic supplies from onshore and offshore resources.

The National Commission on Energy Policy, Dominion Energy, Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will focus on the importance of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a supply source, and policies that should be considered with respect to LNG siting and safety.

The state of Louisiana, Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC), Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, Consumer Federation, Independent Storage and FERC will discuss the regulatory policies that are aimed at bolstering infrastructure for gas transmission and distribution lines and storage.

The issue of the environmental challenges and regulatory barriers to expanding natural gas supply will be tackled by The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Commission on Energy Policy, Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Domestic Petroleum Council.

The use of conservation and efficiency measures to reduce gas demand will be the topic of panelists Calpine Corp., NARUC, Nuclear Energy Institute, PPM Energy, Harvard University, Coal Utilization Research Council, American Gas Association and the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy.

The final panel will focus on the adequacy of storage and market information to ensure a well-functioning gas market. Panelists will include the Committee of Chief Risk Officers, American Electric Power, IOGCC, Consumers Alliance for Affordable Natural Gas, New York Mercantile Exchange, NGC and FERC.

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