Institute Seminar: Assessing Natural Gas' New Promises and Controversies
October 3, 2011
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Varsity Hall III, Union South
1308 W. Dayton St., Madison, WI 53706
Three questions have been cycling around in the press:
 Is the bounty of newly accessible gas the bridge resource for moving us into a future of clean,
affordable energy?
 Does it bring with it new environmental threats to water supplies and climate?
 And, is the forecasted promise really there from an environmental and cost perspective?
The answer to these questions depend on honest assessment of the new techniques that have dramatically
altered the economics and resource availability of natural gas and an intelligent comparison of natural gas
to the fuel it would most likely supplant: coal and or nuclear.
In this one-day program, a group of experts will explore the future of natural gas and what it means for
the utility landscape in Wisconsin and beyond. Participants will hear, and interact, as panels of speakers
describe hydraulic fracturing, how it is changing the resource projections and economics of natural gas
and the new questions about its environmental footprint. We will also look at natural gas in the context of
replacing energy from coal and ask the audience and a panel to address where natural gas fits into
Wisconsin’s energy future.
Agenda:
9:00 a.m. The Carbon Molecule--Professor Alan Carroll, UW Madison and Associate Editor for the
American Association of Petroleum Geologists :
 The carbon molecule—its make-up and its break down. Where and what are our coal and natural
gas resources? Differentiating between conventional and unconventional gas fields, surface and
pit mining, how can we achieve clarity in the various resource projections?
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Panel 1: Environmental Impacts and Stewardship Opportunities Associated with
Natural Gas Production
The rapid expansion of shale gas development activity has heightened concerns over natural gas’
environmental impacts to air, water, land and climate. What do the latest studies say about natural gas’
environmental footprint when the recent rise in this new type of extraction is considered, and what are
some of the on-the-ground best practices to minimize impacts and promote environmental conservation?
 Peter Taglia, Environmental Geologist: Natural gas and coal from an environmental life-cycle
perspective
 Saya Kitasei, Program Manager and Lead Researcher on the Natural Gas and Sustainable
Energy Initiative, Worldwatch Institute: Environmental assessment of shale gas extraction at the
local level
● Betsey Day, Associate Environmental Scientist, Stantec: Landscape management and initiatives
to promote biodiversity in gas development areas
11:45 a.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Strategies to Improve the Safety & Environmental Performance of Hydraulic
Fracturing
 Shale Gas Subcommittee Recommendations—Susan Tierney, Managing Principal, Analysis
Group: On May 5, 2011, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu charged the Secretary of Energy
Advisory Board (SEAB) Shale Gas Production Subcommittee to make recommendations to
improve the safety and environmental performance of natural gas hydraulic fracturing from shale
formations. The subcommittee released a 90-day report in August 2011, recommending a number
of strategies for regulators and industry to minimize risks to the environment.
1:30 p.m. Break
1:45 p.m. Part One: The Economic Future of Natural Gas—Dale Nesbitt, Deloitte Marketpoint LLC:
Dr. Nesbit will cover two major areas in his session. First, he will examine the current status of the gas
industry in the Midwest, North America and the world. This will include a discussion on:
 What is the situation as it relates to LNG and Shale—should we really be converting our
ports into LNG exporters?
 What are the uncertainties around shale? What does this mean for price?
 What do production costs look like for shale gas, transportation (pipe and ship) and demand?
2:15 p.m. Part Two: Gas and the Power Industry: Using models created by MarketPoint, Dr. Nesbitt
will provide insight into what the economics look like for gas once you include environmental issues
related to SO2, NOx, mercury, CO2, renewable portfolio standards and trade able renewable credits. Dr.
Nesbitt will evaluate issues such as below against the “draw” of the gas system
 What is the impact of the new EPA air transport rules?
 What would be the impact of regional or national CO2 taxation or trading?
 What does BACT mean? What do mandates do?
 How much GDP loss would occur as a result of CO2 cap and trade regulation?
 What is the future for coal generation?
2:45 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. Panel Discussion 2: Natural Gas in the Energy Utility Landscape:
●
Wisconsin Utility and Commission Perspective: How does the utility industry look at natural
gas options and end-uses? Electricity generation, fuel for consumers or vehicle fuel? What are
the implications of shale gas development for Wisconsin’s utility industry?
○ Jeff Hicken, Alliant Energy
○ Kevin Vesperman, Dept. of Administration – Division of Energy Services
○ Ken Detmer, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
3:45 p.m. Adjourn