Natural gas trade group spent $200K lobbying in 3Q

AP – 

NEW YORK (AP) — A trade group for natural gas utilities spent $200,000 lobbying Congress in the third quarter on regulation of drilling, support for low income families and promotion of natural gas vehicles, according to a recent disclosure report.

That's 23 percent less than the $260,000 the American Gas Association spent in the third quarter of last year. It's 12 percent more than the $178,000 the group spent in the second quarter of 2011.

AGA, based in Washington, represents utilities and other companies that deliver and sell natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

It said it opposed legislation to "restrict or discourage natural gas production," citing proposals in the House and Senate to regulate the gas-drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking. The technique has boosted production, pushed gas prices down, and encouraged more use of the fuel, but environmentalists say it could contaminate ground water.

The association lobbied Congress to increase heating assistance funds for low income families. Most households in the U.S. use natural gas for heating.
AGA also lobbied Congress to keep taxes on dividends from rising and in favor of subsidies to increase sales of vehicles powered by natural gas.
The group disclosed its spending for the July-to-September period in a report filed with the House clerk's office Oct. 20. Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches of government under a federal law enacted in 1995.

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