PITTSBURGH ̶ The natural gas industry has a great story to tell, said Richard Hoffmann, executive director of the INGAA Foundation, the research arm of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. It’s one that has brought great reward to those who work hard to ensure the safe transmission of resources from one part of the country to another.

Hoffmann spoke at Hart Energy’s recent Marcellus-Utica Midstream conference, noting that energy production and growth in manufacturing has likely had the single largest positive impact on much of the U.S. economy in recent years.

“[Natural gas pipelines] make the realization of the shale revolution possible. Natural gas use has contributed to cleaner air. Gas pipelines are the only feasible way to move large quantities of natural gas areas to customers,” Hoffmann said. “Pipelines make it possible. They’re an indispensable link.”

The shale revolution created the need for new pipelines, and it’s critical that companies continue their vigilance to make sure their lines are safe and reliable. In fact, he said, safety is a chief concern.

“The transmission companies have a major responsibility to keep them that way, and these responsibilities are continuous. They don’t ever go away. New infrastructure is continually needed, and our past record will affect our future success. Beyond the clear benefits to our society and economy, the new reality is that stakeholder involvement is increasing and must be addressed responsibly. We’ve got to learn to be proactive, open and address the concerns of stakeholders.”

Close to 305,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline crisscross the U.S. at high pressures. Of that total, 220,000 miles of that is interstate and the other 80,000 is intrastate, Hoffmann said.

“The network, one that is interconnected with Canada and Mexico, it makes North America the world class leader in natural gas transmission. This interconnected network has facilitated the competitive, open access market in the U.S.,” he noted.

In the last decade, about 10,500 miles of mostly large diameter, high pressure interstate transmission pipelines have been laid, and more are in the works. Projects in the northeast are in the planning stage and regulatory stages trying to get approved, and some projects are already under construction.

Even as the pace accelerates, however, pipeline safety must remain the top priority, Hoffmann said.

“Gas pipelines have been extremely safe. Pipelines are noted as the safest mode of transportation. Last year was a very safe year for the interstate natural gas pipeline business and we’ve got to continue to work the commitments that the INGAA pipeline companies have made for zero incidents,” he said. “It’s a goal, and it’s a goal that is being achieved in some ways, but it’s not going to go away without a lot of work.”

This year, Congress will consider re-authorization of the federal pipeline safety bill. INGAA officials are hoping the industry’s record will resonate with lawmakers who will make the re-authorization legislation a clean bill that doesn’t target the industry beyond what exists, he said.

“Rules on valves, integrity management and verification could have significant impact on companies and INGAA is monitoring rule-making, commenting and getting involved hopefully in a positive way,” he said.

Hoffmann specified that while it’s the cleanest burning fossil fuel, natural gas is still the subject of new and increased regulation by the Obama administration, including the new methane policy. New rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on ozone and greenhouse gas emissions are also expected. Those rules could adversely impact the gas pipeline industry in terms of cost and permit requirements, he said.

“There is necessity to focus on the infrastructure that we’re building, but also to look in the rearview mirror and see what’s coming up from behind you,” he said. “It is a critical piece of running this whole business because these new regulations. They come at you from all different directions, and it’s very important to keep up with them.”