As members of APGA’s Public Gas Policy Council, elected officials from five Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia member cities traveled to Washington, D.C., in late September to support the federal legislative and regulatory efforts of APGA and the Gas Authority.
The group personally met with Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Congressman Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Congressman Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), Congressman Jody Hice (R-Ga.), Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), and Congressman Rob Woodall (R-Ga.). The group also met in the offices of five other members of Congress, including senior staff for Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.), Congressman Tom Graves (R-Ga.), Congresswoman Karen Handel (R-Ga.), Congressman Austin Scott (R-Ga.), and Congressman David Scott (D-Ga.).
The team delivered a clear and consistent message in all the meetings: Natural gas is a major part of America’s energy future, and municipal gas systems remain on the cutting edge by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy to our citizens and customers. The group emphasized the importance of the direct-use of natural gas in homes, businesses, transportation and industry instead of using natural gas indirectly to create electricity. The direct-use of natural gas reduces costs and emissions because it moves through the most efficient energy delivery system in the world. The fact that overall emissions have been dropping in direct correlation to the increased use of natural gas was also highlighted in the meetings. The team also discussed rural infrastructure needs and creative funding mechanisms to construct new pipelines and distribution systems.
When elected officials from our member cities show up in a congressional office, our Senators and Representatives pay attention and remember who it is they are serving. We encourage our members to stay engaged with the local district offices of Senators and House Members because the local field representative of each office can be very influential in addressing specific issues.
If you have an interest in joining APGA’s Public Gas Policy Council and would like to get involved in our 2019 advocacy efforts, please contact Dave Schryver of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at
dschryver@apga.org.