AAPG EXPLORER Energy Forum Set for Pittsburgh ACE A special Energy Policy Forum on “The Demand Side <strong>of</strong> the Natural Gas Price Equation” will be held at 1:15-4 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at the AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition in Pittsburgh. Moderator for the event will be Edith Allison, director <strong>of</strong> the GEO-DC Office in Washington, D.C., and columnist <strong>of</strong> the EXPLORER’s monthly feature, “Policy Watch.” The growth in U.S. natural gas production has depressed prices. Although weather and macro-economic conditions influence price in the short term, new markets for natural gas can boost demand over the long term, bringing prices in line with production costs. This forum will explore some potential areas <strong>of</strong> growth in natural gas demand. A moderated discussion period will follow the presentations. Panelists include: u Howard Gruenspecht, deputy administrator, Energy Information Administration: “Projections <strong>of</strong> Future Natural Gas Demand.” u Christopher Smith, deputy assistant secretary for oil and natural gas, U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> Energy: “Expectations for Future Natural Gas Exports.” u James R. Cooper, vice presidentpetrochemicals, <strong>American</strong> Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers: “Potential Growth in Natural Gas Demand for Chemicals. u Paul Kerkhoven, director, government affairs, NGVAmerica: Future <strong>of</strong> natural gas vehicles. Workforce from page 56 that provide necessary data collection and regulation are having a hard time attracting and maintaining qualified workers because <strong>of</strong> uncompetitive salaries, unappealing job locations and cumbersome government hiring practices. This has a negative impact on industry efficiency. Potential Solutions In the short term the oil and gas industry is boosting its workforce by hiring non-U.S. workers, increasing salaries and retention bonuses – especially targeting retention <strong>of</strong> older workers – and acquiring companies to acquire workers. For the long term, among its many recommendations, the report encourages efforts to increase participation <strong>of</strong> underrepresented minorities and grow STEM education. Some <strong>of</strong> the recommended approaches are: u Increased funding from industry and the federal government for academic research in the geosciences and petroleum engineering is necessary for attracting students and faculty. Industry-government coordination or partnerships to fund university research programs help make education more relevant to industry while attracting students and faculty. These programs should be expanded. u Several industry-supported educational programs are effective in encouraging minority students to complete high school and college and in choosing STEM careers. Successful programs should be expanded or replicated. One example is the Cooperative Development Energy Program (CDEP), created at Fort Valley State University (FVSU) in Georgia that targets minority students using mentoring and internship programs starting in the seventh grade. Three years at FVSU are followed by two years at the University <strong>of</strong> Georgia. The program has graduated 100 students in earth sciences and engineering since 1997. The AAPG Foundation established the Ike Crumbly-Minorities in Energy Grant in recognition <strong>of</strong> Ike Crumbly, an AAPG Special Award winner and the founder <strong>of</strong> CDEP. GeoFORCE is a slightly younger but highly acclaimed program at the University <strong>of</strong> Texas. u As health, safety and environmental regulations are moving from check lists to risk-based safety management systems, government-industry collaborations including worker exchanges can help address shortages <strong>of</strong> government workers and help educate industry workers. u The report also encourages government to supplement nongovernment efforts to attract a greater number <strong>of</strong> traditional STEM students to energy and mining careers by showing their importance to the nation and the career opportunities they present. The National Academy examples and conclusions should help Congress in considering a second, 2013 reauthorization <strong>of</strong> the 2007 America COMPETES Act. Among other efforts leading up to the reauthorization: u The Research Subcommittee <strong>of</strong> the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology reviewed four exemplary industrial and non-pr<strong>of</strong>it, philanthropic STEM education initiatives in a March 13 hearing. Example programs by Intel, Honeywell Aerospace, Project Lead the Way and the Museum <strong>of</strong> Science and Industry mirror existing geoscience programs, while focusing on other technologies. u The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a similar hearing in September 2012: Five Years <strong>of</strong> the America COMPETES Act: Progress, Challenges and Next Steps. 58 MAY 2013 WWW.AAPG.ORG See Policy Watch, page 60
AAPG EXPLORER WWW.AAPG.ORG MAY 2013 59