2024 AGENDA
The North American Gas Forum 2024 agenda covered the most important issues of the moment in the energy industry. Below is an overview of discussion points covered during the event.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Pre-Forum Registration
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Welcome Reception
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2024
8:00 am - 8:45 am
Registration and Breakfast
Hosted by
8:45 am - 9:00 am
Welcome Remarks
Speaker
Monika Simões, Founder & CEO, Energy Dialogues
9:00 am - 9:30 am
Stage-setting discussions: North American energy infrastructure
- Moving molecules – what do infrastructure challenges and opportunities look like today?
- What does it take to provide clean and available energy?
- What collaborations are needed?
- AI and data center demand – how do we address the rapid growth of energy demand?
Speakers
Scott Tinker, Chairman, Switch Energy Alliance, CEO, Tinker Energy Associates
Alan Armstrong, CEO, Williams
9:30 am - 9:55 am
Stage-setting discussions: How the US can lead the energy transition on the world stage
- How do we produce more energy with less emissions? Addressing the evolving energy trilemma debate and the necessary tradeoffs between affordability, reliability and carbon footprint
- What answers does natural gas provide to domestic and global energy poverty and economic development concerns?
- The security and versatility of the energy resource base: public and stakeholder perceptions of natural gas
- What are pathways to transform gas to lower-carbon energy solutions and the role of natural gas in an ongoing energy evolution?
- The role of the US as a global guarantor of energy security – what are the ripple effects of an LNG export pause or a potential ban?
- How do we better talk about the complexities of producing energy in today’s world? Changing perceptions and advancing the dialogue
Speakers
Scott Tinker, Chairman, Switch Energy Alliance, CEO, Tinker Energy Associates
Toby Rice, President & CEO, EQT
10:00 am - 10:50 am
Panel Discussion:
Navigating the post-election policy landscape: Insights and uncertainties for the energy sector
- What do we know as of now of the Administration’s position on using the nation’s vast resources to solve global energy poverty, decarbonization goals and its geopolitical advantage?
- Anticipated shifts, strategic responses, and key policy priorities that may shape the industry’s future
- What opportunities should energy operators look at to navigate the uncertainties and polarization in energy policy – investment in clean energy technologies, infrastructure modernization, and partnerships aimed at sustainability?
- What will, or should, be the Administration’s key priorities and objectives for the natural gas sector?
- Latest developments of the 45Q tax credit and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for natural gas producers and operators
- What will be the impact of international carbon reduction strategies on domestic energy policies in the near team?
Moderator
Kevin Book, Managing Director, ClearView Energy Partners
Panelists:
Dustin Meyer, SVP, Policy, Economics & Regulatory Affairs, American Petroleum Institute (API)
Jason Grumet, CEO, American Clean Power Association
Robert Johnston, Senior Director of Research, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia SIPA
Steve Higley, Director, U.S. Government Affairs, Cenovus Energy
10:50 am - 11:20 am
Networking coffee break
Hosted by
11:20 am - 12:10 pm
Panel Discussion
What does the future hold for natural gas demand, both domestically and globally, and what are the primary drivers that will influence the trajectory over the next decade?
- How have the strategies of utilities towards the share of natural gas in the energy mix evolved in recent years?
- Which sectors are expected to be the major consumers of natural gas in the coming years and how will residential, commercial, and industrial demand patterns differ? How do we solve for what cannot be electrified (hard-to-decarbonize sectors, steel etc.)?
- What changes might natural gas suppliers need to implement to respond to evolving demand and buyer expectations?
- Modernizing and augmenting the U.S. electricity grid: what is needed to enhance resilience, support load growth, advance the net-zero power options, and ensure energy security? Addressing challenges, opportunities and successes to date
- Evaluating the current status of batteries, hydrogen, and other energy storage technologies
- How can technology innovation, policy & demand come together in a new era to meet the energy needs of an increasingly digital world?
Moderator
Dan Brouillette, Former U.S. Secretary of Energy
Panelists:
Danika Yeager, SVP US Natural Gas Pipelines & President, Columbia Pipelines, TC Energy
Camilo Serna, SVP, Strategy & External Engagement, NERC
Bruce Rew, SVP, Operations, Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
12:10 pm - 1:30 pm
Networking luncheon
Sponsored by:
1:30 pm - 1:50 pm
Fireside Chat
Moderator
Joseph Majkut, Director, Energy Security and Climate Change Program, CSIS
Speaker:
Laura Lochman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Energy Resources, US Department of State
1:50 pm - 2:40 pm
Panel Discussion:
Natural gas emissions profiles - why provenance and pedigree matter - or do they?
- What are the key factors influencing emissions intensity in natural gas production and consumption?
- Methane leakage: how do we best address and solve the current challenges, and what other priorities do emissions reductions compete with? What matters to whom?
- What role do global buyers play in shaping demand and driving emissions reduction?
- How do European and global policies, Including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), influence the strategies adopted by North America? What is the potential impact international emissions reporting frameworks, such as MMRV and OGMP 2.0 can have, what are challenges and limitations?
- How do we accurately conduct a life cycle assessment across the value chain from extraction all the way to market? What is the role and value of certifications, data and technology innovation and what governing body should be in charge to help transparency?
- Discussing the role of industry collaborations, technological advancements, and regulatory frameworks in achieving transparency and consistency.
Moderator
Robert Stout, Executive Director, Energy Emissions Modeling & Data Lab
Panelists:
Norris Wright, VP Gas, LNG & Low Carbon Origination, Constellation
Naomi L. Boness, Managing Director, Natural Gas Initiative, Stanford University
Fred Hutchison, President & CEO, LNG Allies
Sarah Ladislaw, Managing Director US Program, RMI
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm
Polling part I and commentary
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Spotlight Session:
Future-proofing energy infrastructure and powering our digital energy needs: why resilience matters - lessons learnt from the past year
- The strategic role of gas in meeting evolving energy demands from data centers – what is the realistic demand outlook for gas from data centers over the next decade and what transmission infrastructure may be required?
- How are producers and transmission companies adapting to the rapidly increasing power needs of digital infrastructure?
- What are some partnerships and project finance models to guarantee reliable and sustainable energy for digital infrastructure?
- What is the value of forecasting and building for scenarios?
- Adaptation versus mitigation – what’s needed and why resilience matters – lessons learnt from the past year and the potential cost of solutions
Moderator:
Jason Bennett, Department Chair - Global Projects, Partner, Baker Botts
Speakers:
Chad Zamarin, Executive VP of Corporate Strategic Development, Williams
Sarah Kapnick, Global Head of Climate Advisory, JP Morgan
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Networking coffee break
Hosted by
4:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Keynote
Requirements for a reliable and safe natural gas infrastructure
Speaker:
Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator, PHMSA
4:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Panel Discussion:
The energy industry innovation engine - paving the path to a net-zero energy economy
- Solving the dual challenge of commercially viable and meaningfully scalable – what resources, technologies and innovation will have the greatest emissions reduction impact?
- Comparing the solar and wind energy path to the option of ever more dense resources, including hydrogen, gas and nuclear, and where do these paths intersect, diverge or create synergies?
- The three recent revolutions and what’s next – energy-tech, green-tech and AI
- What are recent advances and opportunities in the emissions space?
- Where is CCUS headed and what innovation potential lies ahead?
- Which synergies can create the biggest impact and how do we ensure the focus is on technological and economic readiness?
Moderator:
Tom Hassenboehler, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, CO2EFFICIENT
Panelists
Stephen Westhoven, President & CEO, NJ Resources
Sarah Delille, VP of US Country Management, Equinor
Steven Borsos, VP of LNG, Fluor
Kevin Skillern, Managing Partner, Energy Innovation Capital
5:20 pm - 6:20 pm
Champagne roundtable sessions
Hosted by
- Permitting Reform: what infrastructure build-out is needed to reach net-zero carbon and what is the outlook for the Energy Permitting Reform Act?
Moderated by: Alex Oehler, VP US External Relations, TC Energy
- A deeper dive into DOE’s LNG export pause: assessing global impacts and the evolving role of LNG
Moderated by: Octávio Simoes, Energy & Utilities Advisor
- Collaborative dialogue: Bridging perspectives between environmental groups and industry leaders
- Key carbon management technologies for gas companies to watch – latest advancements, projects, policies and investments in hydrogen, ammonia, SAF and more
Moderated by: Peter Mandelstam, OBD, Carbon Management Team Lead, Loan Programs Office (LPO), U.S. Department of Energy
- Energy Dialogues for Better Dialogues (by invitation only)
Facilitated by: Monika Simoes, Founder & CEO, Energy Dialogues
- Tackling emissions: key challenges in monitoring, reducing and reporting in the fragmented US natural gas value chain (by invitation only)
Facilitated by: Robert Stout, Executive Director, Energy Emissions Modeling & Data Lab
Moderators
Alex Oehler, VP US External Relations, TC Energy
Octávio Simoes, Energy & Utilities Advisor
Peter Mandelstam, OBD, Carbon Management Team Lead, Loan Programs Office (LPO), U.S. Department of Energy
Monika Simoes, Founder & CEO, Energy Dialogues
Robert Stout, Executive Director, Energy Emissions Modeling & Data Lab
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Cocktail & NAGF Gala dinner reception
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
7:45 am - 8:40 am
Hosted by
Registration and breakfast
8:40 am - 8:45 am
Welcome remarks
Monika Simoes, Founder & CEO, Energy Dialogues
8:45 am - 9:35 am
Legislative Panel
Moderator:
Chris Treanor, Executive Director, Partnership to Address Global Emissions (PAGE)
Hon. Jeff Duncan, U.S. Representative, South Carolina
Hon. Bob Latta, U.S. Representative, Ohio
Hon. Scott Peters, U.S. Representative, California
Hon. Chris Deluzio U.S. Representative, Pennsylvania
9:35 am - 9:55 am
Fireside Chat:
The Sustainable Pathway for Natural Gas
Moderator:
Naomi L. Boness, Managing Director, Natural Gas Initiative, Stanford University
Speaker:
Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, US Department of Energy (DOE)
9:55 am - 10:10 am
Networking coffee break
Hosted by
10:10 am - 11:10 am
Panel Discussion:
LNG on the world stage - what do we have to offer? What promises do we need to deliver on?
- What does the LNG export pause signal domestically and internationally? How does LNG fit into the supply picture, and what advantages and challenges does it present in meeting global energy needs?
- How does the carbon intensity of US LNG compare on the global stage and what visibility will global buyers expect?
- What does the industry need to do to comply with increasing decarbonization requirements in Europe and some key Asian markets? How are these regulations influencing the US energy sector’s strategies and investments?
- What is the role of US LNG exports in the global energy transition and how can it help balancing the increasing bet on coal of energy giants such as India and China?
- Associated gas from Permian operations, infrastructure needs and what will supply current, and yet to be built, LNG terminals
- What are reliable construction models and why do they matter?
Moderator:
Anne Bradbury, President & CEO, American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC)
Panelists:
Arnaud Lenail-Chouteau, VP LNG Assets & Business Development, TotalEnergies
Jeff Hammad, Chief Commercial Officer, Golden Pass LNG
Khary Cauthen, VP of Federal Government Affairs, Cheniere
Dennis Price, Vice President – Marketing & Trading, Expand Energy
Aziz Bamik, General Manager, GTT North America
11:10 am - 11:55 am
Panel Discussion:
Pathways, financing challenges, and priorities to invest in an energy-abundant and sustainable energy future
- What will a greener world look like? Addressing divestment versus investment, energy abundance versus clean, and how we can actually make a difference – how can we avoid capital mis-allocation? What do strategic investments for an energy abundant, lower-carbon energy future look like?
- How are investors assessing the long-term financial returns of energy transition projects compared to traditional energy investments?
- The role of investors to deliver on the promise of a cleaner, more efficient, and secure energy future – successful examples and case studies of impactful investor contributions
- How are shareholder resolutions and activism shaping the energy sector’s approach to sustainability?
- How are investment strategies evolving in response to global energy shifts and sustainability demands?
- What metrics and reporting standards are shareholders using to evaluate corporate sustainability performance?
- What will be the role of private equity in the gas space over the next decade and what type of models and partnerships will be more impactful?
Moderator:
Veronica Relea, Partner, Baker Botts
Panelists:
Tom Field, Partner, Quantum Capital Group
Michael Bertuccio, Founding & Managing Partner, Wincoram Asset Management
Caroline Abramo, Founder & CEO, Pana Low Carbon Economy Investments
12:00 pm - 12:20 pm
Fireside Chat
Canadian Spotlight
Moderator:
Carolyn Kissane, Assistant Dean MS in Global Affairs, Global Security, Conflict and Cybercrime, NYU
Speaker
Larry Kaumeyer, Deputy Minister, Energy and Minerals, Government of Alberta
12:20 pm - 12:40 pm
Polling part II and commentary
12:40 pm - 2:00 pm
Networking luncheon - followed by coffee round tables
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Coffee roundtable session & working groups (by invitation only)
- Energy demand surge: what is the outlook for AI and data centers?
- Latin American LNG spotlight: Insights and emerging market trends across the region
Moderated by: Alfredo Chamat, General Manager, Calamari LNG
- Establishing a global framework for natural gas lifecycle management: best practices, data collection methods and regulatory changes
Moderated by: Jamison Cocklin, Managing Editor-LNG, Natural Gas Intelligence
- Advancing North American gas pipelines: Overcoming approval hurdles to connect key hubs and boost LNG exports
Moderated by: John Clark, CEO, Jones Power
- Investor spotlight: Bridging investment, project finance and policy for sustainable energy sector growth (By invitation only)
Moderated by: Samantha Gross, Director, Energy Security and Climate Initiative, Brookings Institution
Moderators
Alfredo Chamat, General Manager, Calamari LNG
Jamison Cocklin, Managing Editor-LNG, Natural Gas Intelligence
John Clark, CEO, Jones Power
Samantha Gross, Director, Energy Security and Climate Initiative, Brookings Institution
2:45 pm - 3:00 pm
Keynote
Speaker:
Joseph DeCarolis, Administrator, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Fireside Chat
Post-election focus: what is the outlook for the natural gas and broader energy industry?
Speaker:
James Danly, Former FERC Commissioner
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
In conversation with the media: Can we engage better?
- How can the natural gas industry effectively communicate its contributions to a sustainable energy future?
- What strategies and narratives resonate most with the public, media, policymakers, and investors?
- How does the media navigate conflicting narratives or conflicting datasets, and determine what ultimately makes the headline
- What are the energy and natural gas related story lines you are interested in covering over the next 6 – 18 months?
Moderators:
Mara Abbott, Chief of Staff, OpenMinds
Monika Simoes, Founder & CEO, Energy Dialogues
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Panel Discussion:
Incentivizing true dialogue, factually complete conversations and open minds: crafting a positive narrative and driving true impact
- How do the industry and environmental groups identify shared goals and opportunities for shared success? How do we better communicate that these two things are not in opposition?
- How can the natural gas industry effectively collaborate with environmental groups to address shared sustainability challenges?
- What are some successful examples of stakeholder engagement that have led to positive outcomes?
- What does the next generation of energy workers look for, and how can the industry better collaborate and find synergies for engagement? NextGen energy leaders – can we all rally behind making the world a better place?
- What does meaningful progress look like and how do we engage better? How do we increase the circle of allies – examples of some recent progress
Moderator:
Carolyn Kissane, Assistant Dean MS in Global Affairs, Global Security, Conflict and Cybercrime, NYU
Panelists:
Heather Reams, President, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES)
Jeremy Harrell, CEO, ClearPath
4:45 pm
Conclusions and end of North American Gas Forum