Incoming AGA Chair Outlines Critical Importance of Natural Gas Customers

Washington, D.C. – Suzanne Sitherwood, 2023 Chair of the American Gas Association (AGA) Board of Directors, is taking on the role at a time when the nation is facing unique economic and geopolitical challenges. Sitherwood is President and CEO of Spire Inc. in St. Louis, MO. She and AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert outlined their vision for the year ahead at a virtual media event today. 

“What the natural gas industry does reaches far beyond the pipe in the ground. The homes and businesses – and the communities – we serve are the heart of this industry,” said Sitherwood. “Nearly 187 million Americans use natural gas because it is affordable, reliable, safe and essential to achieving a cleaner future for our nation. Natural gas is the best way to deliver affordability and reliability today and emissions reductions tomorrow.”

Spire safely and reliably delivers affordable natural gas to more than 1.7 million homes and businesses in Missouri, Alabama and Mississippi. Under Sitherwood’s leadership, the company has more than quadrupled its market value and increased its enterprise value more than six-fold. It is one of the largest publicly traded natural gas company in the U.S.

AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert called for an inclusive approach to our nation’s climate challenge, saying, “The most practical, realistic way to achieve a sustainable future where energy is clean, as well as safe, reliable and affordable is to develop a plan that includes natural gas and the infrastructure that transports it. The industry outlined the ways to do it in a study, Net-Zero Emissions Opportunities for Gas Utilities, that presents a national-level approach that leverages the unique advantages of gas technologies and distribution infrastructure.”

This year, AGA will release a series of studies examining the importance of natural gas in various industries. These studies will look at how eliminating natural gas would impact businesses, customers and our economy.