Looking beyond gas supply: a new challenge for the industry

A positive marketing future for natural gas utilities is seen by the chairman of the American Gas Association (AGA). Natural gas supplies are beginning to increase and, if price controls are lifted, the industry may have to talk to its customers about demand growth rather than curtailments. Continued conservation and the need for exploration must be communicated to the public along with the relative merits of natural gas as a fuel. Teamwork and determination characterize the industry's approach during the past winter and will be the style for future efforts. AGA has lobbied to have energy supply problems given equal weight with conservation in the national energy plan in opposition to President Carter's pessimistic reliance on conservation alone. AGA supports policies for new discovery and research for new technologies to tap gas reserves and to add new supplies of liquefied natural gas and synthetic natural gas. (DCK)