[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Post contributed by Bill desRosiers – Coordinator, External Affairs
“When I started 20 years ago with Columbia Natural Gas my first vehicle was a NGV. The concept isn’t new, the technology is better!”
–George Stark
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Over 350 individuals from across Northeast Pennsylvania were present for the first ever Energy Day in NEPA, a symposium on the state of the industry, natural gas usage and an update on midstream operations. A panel discussion on becoming part of the Marcellus shale supply chain also occurred, giving local business a crash course on the do’s and don’ts of the industry. Next to quality work and reliability, panel members stressed a commitment to safety as the universal theme of doing business with any of the Marcellus Shale operators.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]George Stark, Director of External Affairs for Cabot, was invited to speak on growing demand for natural gas in the region. “Why should YOU care about expanded natural gas use in NEPA?” he asked. “Because the long-term benefits of natural gas are right here, right now: Clean air, energy security and most important, reduced dependence on foreign oil.”
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]To make his presentation more engaging George included Cabot’s 1 BCF celebration video, a conceptualization of the monumental level of energy production Cabot achieved earlier this year; if you haven’t seen the video check it out below.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_raw_html]PGlmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vZW1iZWQvaklqWUg1eGNfMUE/cmVsPTAiIGhlaWdodD0iMzE1IiB3aWR0aD0iNTYwIiBhbGxvd2Z1bGxzY3JlZW49IiIgZnJhbWVib3JkZXI9IjAiPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]George focused a lot of his discussion on Cabot’s Natural Gas Vehicle fleet in Susquehanna County, which totals 60 vehicles right now when including sister company GDS.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]“These vehicles are running the same as gasoline or diesel vehicles, just they run cleaner and cheaper – almost $2.50 per gallon cheaper!”
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]To prove almost anything is possible with CNG, George showed a brief video of Mike Failace, a Cabot lessee, about converting his 1955 Chevy to run on natural gas. If you haven’t seen the video yet don’t worry about it, we’ve embedded it below.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_raw_html]PGlmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vZW1iZWQveDhtTVdwNkYtSjg/cmVsPTAiIGhlaWdodD0iMzE1IiB3aWR0aD0iNTYwIiBhbGxvd2Z1bGxzY3JlZW49IiIgZnJhbWVib3JkZXI9IjAiPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]To bring everything full circle for the crowd, George stated: “earlier in the day someone proclaimed ‘Meds and Ed are what define Scranton’, I would like to add proudly ‘and now natural gas!’”
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]He concluded his presentation with these parting words:
“As early as we are in the Marcellus Shale I think we have proven what the Marcellus can deliver. Now let’s work together!”
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