Energy Innovations: Rockies & West

Why are over three hundred natural gas industry experts meeting in San Diego? To share insights about Rockies & West energy markets and to structure transactions to buy, sell and transport natural gas.

Over three hundred energy industry professionals convene in August to gain insight and conduct analysis of up to the minute issues facing the Rockies & West U.S. natural gas market region. The 22nd Annual LDC Gas Forum Energy Innovations: Rockies & West takes place August 10-12, in San Diego, CA. This is the industry’s premier gathering for natural gas industry professionals, which is much more than simply a conference, with participants routinely negotiating transactions during the event.

The Program for this year’s event is packed with relevant critical issues that natural gas market stakeholders are facing across the value chain. A key theme across the agenda is Energy Innovations to Lower Carbon - addressing the trilemma challenge of security of supply, affordability, and delivering lower carbon energy alternatives (Certified Gas, RNG, Carbon Capture (CCS), Carbon Offsets, Virtual Pipeline, LNG, H2, Infrastructure Requirements, Electrification Challenges, etc.). In addition, recurring LDC Gas Forum topics will be addressed, including: market fundamentals (supply/demand), supply capabilities, midstream infrastructure updates, gas buyer perspectives, latest policy/regulatory diagnosis, and technology innovations. All this against a backdrop of commercial operations involving producing, transporting, and selling natural gas.

Beyond these overarching topics, the agenda is also designed to address issues unique to the Rockies & West U.S. natural gas markets. Gas/electric coordination concerns, including electrification of everything, as well as new data center demand to support Artificial Intelligence (AI), translates into a significant forecasted increase in natural gas fired power generation. Midstream infrastructure expansions face fierce resistance, resulting in bottlenecks and basis price anomalies. Peak day demand continues to stretch capabilities, as the economy and population grows, and more intermittent renewables are introduced into the fuel mix. LNG Exports, primarily from U.S. Gulf Coast liquefaction facilities, is now competing for supply from production regions that traditionally serve Rockies & West markets.

The convergence of these market conditions translates into potential for volatility and the need for informed decisions on structuring commercial arrangements into the future.