Repairing  Our  Cities’    Aging  Pipelines  

 Pipeline  Safety  Trust  Conference  2015  

     

Rob  McCulloch  –  Director,  Infrastructure  Programs  

A  coalition  of  10  of  the  country’s  largest  labor  unions  and  5  of  America’s  most  influential  environmental  groups  

BlueGreen  Alliance  unites  nearly  16M  members  and  supporters  working  for  a  clean  energy  economy.  

AFL-­‐CIO  representing  11M+  American  workers  

 

AFL-­‐CIO  

Repairing  our  Ci-es  Aging  Pipelines  –  RECAP  

•  Frontline  gas  workers  -­‐  unions  involved  in  pipeline  installa-on,  opera-ons,  maintenance,  fabrica-on:  

•  United  Associa-on/UA  –  distribu-on,  upstream  pipefiDers  &  welders  

•  U-lity  Workers  Union  of  America  –  distribu-on,  storage,  transmission,  clerical  

•  Steelworkers  (USW)  –  distribu-on,  supply  chain  •  AFL-­‐CIO  –  supply  chain  

•  Environment  advocates    -­‐  climate,  pollu-on  goals  

“A  safer  gas  system  wastes  less  gas  and  creates  less  pollu5on  –  efforts  to  reduce  pollu5on  and  waste  result  in  a  safer  

system.”  

RECAP  Goals  •  Create  safer  workplaces  and  communities  

by  supporting  workforce  efforts  and  improve  industrial  practices  

•  Modernize  a  critical  part  of  energy  infrastructure  w/  focus  on  aging,  leak-­‐prone  pipes  and  equipment  (i.e.  110K+  miles  of  bare  steel,  cast  iron…aging  plastic  next  challenge)  

•  Recapture  lost  natural  gas  which  consumers  and  businesses  pay  for  –              ‘keep  gas  in  the  system’  

•  Reduce  emissions  to  lower  climate  impact  –  pound  for  pound,  uncombusted  methane  at  least  25x  as  powerful  as  carbon  dioxide    

PHMSA  TAG  Programs  Minnesota  2013-­‐2014  

Industry  best  practices  (LDAR),  identify  workforce  challenges,  opportunities  

Indiana  2014-­‐2015  Plastic  pipe  issues,  leaks  due  to  material/

welds/corrosion  higher,  workforce,  Operator  Qualification  challenges  

California  2015-­‐2016  Educate,  support  implementation  of  new  state  policy  to  speed  distribution  repairs/

upgrades  

 

Minnesota  TAG  •  Convening  frontline  gas  workers  (MN  Pipe  Trades),  

unions  (USW),  community/environmental  groups,  utilities,  MN  safety/pipeline  agencies;  final  at  MN  AFL-­‐CIO  convention  

•  Best  practices  regarding  LDAR  (leak  detection  &  replacement)  undertaken  by  Twin  Cities  utilities,  potentially  serving  as  a  model  for  other  markets  

•  5.7x  increase  in  leaks  detected,  90%  fewer  unfound  leaks,  26%  fewer  customer  calls  

•  Better  leak  detection  =  leaks  found  earlier  when  smaller  and  less  hazardous  

•  Workforce  development  challenges,  opportunities  for  training  and  retention  of  gas  utility  workers.  

•  Focus  on  pipe  trades  as  viable  career  paths  at  all  levels  of  education  

•  43  miles  of  cast  iron  replacement  under  current  programs  =  500  MN  jobs  created  

Indiana  TAG  •  Convened  Vectren,  NiSource  frontline  gas  

workers  (USW  Locals  12775,  12213;  IBEW  Local  1373),  UA,  community/enviro  groups,  workforce  development  –  final  at  Inter  Union  Gas  Conference  (nat’l  gas  workers)    

•  Plastic  pipe  –  older  generation  plastic  (60’s  and  70’s)  brittle,  cracking,  leaking;  will  need  replacement  in  years  to  come  but  not  as  well  tracked,  mapped,  inventoried  

•  Workforce  –  OQs  longer  but  not  as  good;  not  testing  practical  skills.  Unions  lead  on  safety,  training  –  how  to  play  a  larger  role?  

•  Hiring/aging  –  generation  gap  between  new  workers  and  retiring  workers,  need  to  attract  next  generation  of  pipe  workers  –  ‘the  new  economy  is  the  old  economy’  

0  

500  

1,000  

1,500  

2,000  

2,500  

1970's   1980's   1990's   2000's   2010's   2020's   2030's   2040's  

Distribu5on  pipe  reaching  50+  yrs  

Cumula-ve  pipeline  miles  (1000's)  

Source:  PHMSA  

•  California  Methane  Leakage  Abatement  Workforce  Act  –  Law  directs  California  PUC  to  improve  LDAR,  pipe  replacement,  classifications/response  

•  Pro  -­‐  1st  ever  nat  gas  pipe  policy  that  factors  climate  change  impact  

•  Con  –  Undefined  timeline  for  implementation;  regional  disparities  

Illinois  Natural  Gas  Safety  and  Reliability  Act  -­‐  TIRF  approved  in  2013  for  Chicago  &  statewide  replacement  of  more  than  1K  miles  of  cast  iron,  uncoated  steel  distribution  pipe,  smart  meters  outside  buildings  

•  Pro  -­‐  Create  500  direct  jobs  incl.  vets  hiring  program  (1K+  total  jobs  created)  

•  Con  –  Costs  exceeding  estimates  >  impact  to  consumers  

•  New  Jersey  EnergyStrong  /filings  -­‐  $2B  over  5  years  to  replace  400  miles  of  cast  iron,  11,000  unprotected  services,  move  metering  stations  above  flood  zones  in  response  to  Hurricane    Sandy;  potential  to  create  2K  jobs  for  state  economy  

Additional  RECAP  Distribution  Efforts  

PHMSA  –  successful  rules/policies  hinge  on  con-nuing/expanding  hiring  staff,  PHMSA  reauthoriza-on  

•  Stronger  Operator  Qualifica-on  (OQ)  standards  to  ensure  tes-ng  is  consistent  •  Plas-c  pipe  in  gas  services  –  beDer  tracking  and  design  factors  for  newer  PE,  

PA-­‐11,  PA-­‐12  plas-c  pipe  

•  Improved  /faster  accident  no-fica-on  

•  Expanding  the  use  of  excess  flow  valves  in  applica-ons  beyond  single  residences    •  Safety  of  gas  transmission  pipelines/improved  integrity  management  

Environmental  Protec-on  Agency,  Department  of  Energy  •  EPA  –  current  draa  federal  rule  (early  2016?)  for  upstream  gas  leaks;  oppty  for  

distribu-on  beyond  Natural  Gas  Star  (voluntary  program  for  gas  u-li-es);  Control  Technique  Guidelines  (regional  air  quality  standards)  

•  DOE  –  funding  for  natural  gas  distribu-on  moderniza-on  pending  under  Quadrennial  Energy  Review  

Priorities  at  the  federal  level  

•  Frontline  gas  worker  voices  key  in  guiding  state,  federal  policy  –  well  suited  to  convey  impact  of  energy  and  utility  policy  on  workplaces,  industrial  practices,  and  communities  to  public  utility  commissioners,  policymakers  

•  Share  best  practices  effectively  –  identify  issues  faced  in  different  markets,  make  practical  solutions  more  accessible  to  all  

•  Invest  in  infrastructure  and  workers  for  safe,  efficient  energy  –  ‘insource’  the  best,  most  advanced  materials  and  equipment  

•  Hold  industry  accountable  to  communities,  workers,  future  generations  

Workers  are  a  key  resource  in  defining  and  resolving  issues  in  the  natural  gas  pipeline  system      

Looking  Ahead  

Questions,  comments  >  robm@bluegreenalliance.org