A trade association representing 720 municipally and publicly owned natural gas distributors expressed its support for legislation aimed at halting the US Environmental Protection Agency’s effort to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

The presidents of four major natural gas industry associations urged US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) to include gas in any clean energy standard that Congress develops.

Legislation that suspended purchases of crude oil for the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 2008 saved taxpayers more than $600 million, according to Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-SD).

Twenty US governors and 107 business groups, including 12 national and regional oil and gas associations and 24 state petroleum councils and associations, separately expressed support on Mar. 10 for US Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alas.) expected US Environmental Protection Agency disapproval resolution.

US President Barack Obama hosted 14 US senators and top administration policymakers at the White House on Mar. 9 for more than an hour to discuss prospects for comprehensive energy legislation.