The population is growing, demand for electricity is soaring and we are in a race to net-zero emissions. How can natural gas help?

This Panel examines natural gas market fundamentals in the northeast U.S. The Panel is comprised of leading industry analysts who present up-to-the-minute market data and contextual interpretation. Topics addressed include:

•Supply / Demand: current balances and forecasts
•Price: forecasts; volatility assessment
•Market Influences: LNG Exports; midstream infrastructure; powergen; data centers; etc.
•Renewables: impacts on markets
•Weather: forecasting; hurricane activity; seasonal; temperatures; impacts on markets

The information presented and discussed provides an excellent foundation and factual reference resource for the overall agenda and ensuing discussions.

Policy, regulatory and NGO resistance to continued development of natural gas markets is building. This panel examines several innovative solutions being employed by leading stakeholders to overcome these headwinds. Examples include virtual pipeline, mobile energy solutions, RNG, project development and construction, as well as traditional pipeline transportation innovations.

America’s appetite for electricity is growing rapidly and natural gas is a well-positioned solution to reliably meet this demand. In this Keynote presentation, hear from Paul Ruppert as he shares his insight into the industry alongside the challenges and opportunities facing natural gas growth.

US natural gas market update.

Build out of renewable energy power generation and electrification continues in many parts of the country in response to decarbonization and tax policies and subsidies at the state and federal levels. The intermittent nature of renewable energy power generation demands that a consistently reliable and alternative source of power be available when renewables are not. Concurrently, policies that push electrification, as well as new data center demand to support Artificial Intelligence (AI), is translating into a significant forecasted increase in demand for power over the coming decade, with peak day demand stretching existing system capabilities. With gas and electricity markets inextricably tied today, understanding this interdependency and system dynamics is critical to ensuring reliability now and into the future. This is a timely Panel offering valuable perspectives on the topic from experts representing a variety of stakeholder interests and perspectives across industry, markets and government.

Natural gas suppliers continue to make great strides in innovating low-carbon energy alternatives. Differentiated gas, including certified gas, are gaining significant market interest with actual transactions being inked between suppliers and various market constituents. A proliferation of independent third-party certifiers of low-carbon product attributes across the natural gas value chain have arrived on the scene. This Panel, comprised of experts representing suppliers, end use markets and independent certification entities, will provide a state of the market assessment of product innovations. In addition, the Panel will share practical examples of transactions currently being employed.

Please join our hosts, the Corporate Sponsors, at a cocktail reception in your honor. Don’t make your dinner plans too early as hors d’oeuvres and an open bar will be the highlight of this extremely well attended session!

Massachusetts announced a first-in-the nation Office of Energy Transformation earlier this year charged with the hands-on execution of the clean energy transition, including ensuring the availability and readiness of electrical infrastructure, gas to electric transition coordination, and a just transition for impacted workers and businesses. Like many states across the country, the Commonwealth is at an inflection point where its bold policy vision needs to be translated into practical solutions. During this session, the Office’s newly appointed Executive Director – utility industry veteran Melissa Lavinson -- will share her priorities, focus, and intentions to bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders to develop practical and immediate steps to equitably, affordably, and responsibly shift to a more electrified future and successfully implement the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities’ landmark order on the Future of Gas – DPU Order 20-80-2.

The apocalyptic view of climate change is hyperbole and misleading, the effects of climate change are not certain disaster, and the resulting energy policy is an attack on prosperity. We draw from a growing body of work of scientists, economists and stakeholders that have seen through the thin veil of climate crisis propaganda. We need to restore hope and order to our energy policy
• Yes – the climate is changing (it always has)
• No – climate change is not a crisis
• Yes – we should be concerned with maintaining a sustainable living planet.

In the last decade, Appalachia natural gas production rocketed up to more than 35 Bcf/d, often straining infrastructure and crushing local price basis. With Mountain Valley Pipeline’s prospects at risk and no new major Northeast takeaway pipeline additions likely, producers and marketers are adapting to a new normal. What will that mean for regional supply availability/response and prices?

As the decarbonization journey continues, much is being learned about the vital role that natural gas must play going forward. Decarbonization in isolation, without considering other critical energy elements (reliability and affordability), is a hollow goal. This panel will share insight around how we can realistically achieve a low-carbon energy future, by intelligently leveraging natural gas in the energy mix. Natural gas supply is plentiful, reliable and affordable. Natural gas infrastructure (existing and new) offers great opportunities for innovation in re-purposing such as Carbon Capture, H2 blending, Certified Gas delivery, to achieve low-carbon goals.

As natural gas markets evolve through energy transition, challenges are encountered that demand improvements in technology solutions to facilitate and streamline transactions across the value chain. Fortunately, leading technology providers are rising to this challenge with innovative solutions to anticipate the evolution. This panel will introduce several examples of solutions that are available now to optimize efficiency of transactions and coalesce a fragmented market. Examples will be presented from a practical, non-technical, commercially oriented perspective. Technologies underlying these innovations include Artificial Intelligence (AI; e.g. ChatGPT); predictive analytics, simulation software, blockchain, cloud-based access from anywhere, integration (e.g. EDI), customizable APIs, data digitization, encryption and cybersecurity, workflow optimization, etc.

Gas market outlook for 2023 / 2024

As the energy transition gains momentum, innovative operators are introducing a raft of new products marketed as Responsibly Sourced Gas (RSG), with a lower carbon intensity by means of a range of creative commercial transactions that mitigate carbon content. With the market aware of potential “greenwashing” a key element of these arrangements involves use of independent tracking, analysis and certification of actual carbon footprint of various fuel sources. This Panel is comprised of Executives from leading independent analytical, assessment and certification entities that are active in the market. Discussion will include explanation of processes, supporting technologies and commercial arrangements of solutions, leveraging examples based upon real-life case studies.

From a standstill in 2015, American exports of LNG briefly approached 15 billion cubic feet per day in April 2023. That trade volume is more than Australia’s total daily gas production and the equivalent of about 90% of Canada’s gas output. These reliable supplies from the world’s largest gas producing nation played a crucial role in helping Europe and Asia turn away from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. However, the exceptionally warm winter of 2022-23 substantially reduced demand for gas as a heating fuel while a global slump in manufacturing activity simultaneously curbed its use in industrial production. The resulting surge in inventory has sent cash prices reeling and is now forcing steep cuts to U.S. field production, even as the Russian war intensifies and a new winter is less than six months away. In this talk, Colin Fenton will explain why U.S. natural gas will remain an indispensable commodity for securing the world’s economic and geostrategic health for decades to come.

Policy, regulatory and NGO resistance to continued development of natural gas markets is building. This panel examines several innovative solutions being employed by leading stakeholders to overcome these headwinds. Examples include virtual pipeline, mobile energy solutions, RNG, project development and construction, as well as traditional pipeline transportation innovations.

Please join our hosts, the Corporate Sponsors, at a cocktail reception in your honor. Don’t make your dinner plans too early as hors d’oeuvres and an open bar will be the highlight of this extremely well attended session!

End users of natural gas include Gas Distribution Utilities (Commercial & Residential), Industrial (Petrochem, Process, Heat) and PowerGeneration. Gas Buyers representing these entities often have a different perspective than other stakeholders across the value chain when it comes to market conditions, developments, and issues. Whether regulated or unregulated, Gas Buyers exist at the end of the value chain, essentially faced with reacting to market developments that are generally out of their control. Creative negotiation of commercial purchasing terms are vital to these constituents ensuring flexibility, security of supply, and competitive prices. This panel will shed light on gas buyer perspectives on a number of topical issues.
•Utilities – natgas distribution utilities; combined gas/electric utilities (regulated).
•PowerGen – utilities using natgas to generate power (regulated).
•IPPs – independent power producers using natgas to generate power (merchant power, combined cycle, etc. (non-regulated).
•Industrials – manufacturers of products that rely on natgas for process or heat.
•Petrochemical – manufacturers of petrochemical products that rely on natgas for process or heat.
•Merchant Energy – independent operators purchasing natgas to convert into other energy sources (e.g. methanol, etc.).
•We will take the Panel through the following topic categories and ask for perspectives on the various categories and specific questions.
•Buyer’s are expected to have a variety of perspectives based upon each unique situation (e.g. regulated vs. non-regulated; criticality; etc.).
•Panel discussion of each topic/question is encouraged.
•Market Fundamentals (Supply, Demand, Pricing)
•Midstream
•Energy Transition
•Gas Supply Arrangements
•Regulatory / Policy
•Power Generation