Electrify Everything Movement Becoming Major Focus Of Industry

(October 14, 2019) — Amid changes in leadership and issues of focus at the

(NPGA), vice president and general counsel Jeff Petrash said that while some key issues are requiring less focus, a tsunami is brewing in the form of the “electrify everything” movement. “The Crane Rule hasn’t come up as a significant issue for almost a year,” Petrash said. “Natural gas expansion has also slowed, but we continue to monitor it and we can address concerns as they arise.” For Petrash and the staff at NPGA, weekly advocacy meetings of the staff help determine priorities and they, as well as the NPGA leadership, are concerned about a movement to cut carbon emissions that doesn’t consider the full fuel cycle of each form of energy.

“The promotion of electricity as a fuel with zero carbon emissions is very misleading,” Petrash explained. “We are decades and decades away from most electricity being renewable, and coal and natural gas are used predominantly to create electricity.” He added that when coal and natural gas are used to create electricity, efficiency is much lower than heating with propane or natural gas directly. “A full 70% of the energy value disappears before the electricity powers the house. Meanwhile, with propane and natural gas, nearly 90% of the fuel gets to the house. In these situations, an electric water heater will leave more than double the carbon footprint.”

Petrash commented he has seen an electric-powered Tesla with the license plate message, “No More Gas.” With the electricity likely created from coal, the emission of carbon into the environment is much greater than from a propane-powered vehicle, even though the emissions occur at the plant where electricity is produced. Petrash feels a license plate that says, “Coal Pwd” on an electric vehicle is a more fitting message. “Some in state legislatures across the United States would like to limit our fuel choices, literally ruling out propane-powered options in favor of higher carbon-producing energy in the full fuel cycle,” he said. “All of this is in the name of cutting carbon emissions and helping the environment, believe it or not!”

“NPGA has added staff to focus more on the activity of state legislatures. The state government level is where more of the movement is to cut fossil fuel usage in favor of electricity. We are not likely to see as much activity on the federal level as long as Republicans keep control of the White House and Senate.” Having a relationship with many key agencies and state government officials will only help the cause, according to Petrash. “We’ve worked with the governor’s energy advisors in many states. This has given us a seat at the table for other issues as they arise.

“Hours of service is another issue where we are able to answer questions that come up.” Being part of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) has been important. “Three of us have been attending NASEO events,” he said. “We attended their winter meeting and five recent regional meetings.”

It is expected that NPGA and the

(PERC) will work together closely on the challenge to the electric movement. “NPGA will focus more on advocacy. PERC cannot lobby due to its governing statute, but can provide funding and speakers for educational programs and educational materials. We have Tucker Perkins, CEO at PERC, lined up to speak at a NASEO roundtable in Los Angeles,” Petrash said.

“Carbon labeling of consumer appliances is one advocacy approach NPGA is working on. It is encouraging that overall efficiency of consumer appliances be done through full fuel cycle (FFC) policy. We want carbon footprint information to be included on consumer appliances so that people have this information during the purchasing decision.”

e new CEO joins NPGA at the time there is a need to ramp up our initiatives on challenging the ‘electrify everything’ movement,’” Petrash said. He noted that the staff has been working on updating winter preparation plans; internal policies and procedures; and other key documents to make sure the association is in good shape when it’s turned over from the current CEO, Rick Roldan, to the new CEO. “We don’t want the new CEO to have to worry about a lot of details like this. I feel confident the board has hired someone who is in lockstep with us on the challenge of electricity.” — Pat Thornton