Washington, DC – The American Gas Association (AGA) today praised the selection of Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., as the secretary of the Interior, rounding out President-elect Obama’s “green team.”
“Senator Salazar’s background makes him the ideal candidate for this critical position,” said David N. Parker, AGA president and CEO. “He has demonstrated that he understands the need for more natural gas in American homes and businesses by supporting the opening of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for energy production. In that vein, we encourage him to support the Minerals Management Service’s proposed OCS 5-Year Program for 2010-2015.
“We also urge him to bring additional relief to consumers grappling with high energy prices by opening available areas of the Intermountain West to natural gas exploration. With demand projected to increase by more than 30 percent by the year 2030, the only way we can continue to deliver natural gas to our nearly 70 million customers at a fair and reasonable cost is to increase supply.
“We look forward to working with Secretary Salazar on these critical issues as our nation’s energy and environmental needs become a top priority for the new Congress and new administration.”