By OGJ editors
WASHINGTON, DC, July 21 -- The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Tuesday predicted $61 billion must be invested in US natural gas infrastructure by 2020 or consumers will see much higher natural gas bills.
INGAA's non-profit foundation commissioned the study by Energy and Environmental Analysis Inc. The study predicted that a 2-year delay in infrastructure construction will cost US gas consumers more than $200 billion (in constant 2003 dollars) during the next 15 years.
To satisfy what is expected to be a 30 tcf market by 2010, gas suppliers will have to develop frontier supplies in North America, and dramatically expand LNG imports, study authors said.
INGAA called on state and federal regulators to work together on policies that attract capital to pipeline and storage projects. States also should coordinate LNG permit issues with federal regulators to move the process forward and to better inform stakeholders, including local residents about environment and safety impacts.
