The Bossier Chamber of Commerce will host an energy analyst Wednesday who will give a forecast on natural gas development in northwest Louisiana and across the nation.
Matthew Koch, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s institute for 21st Century Energy, says natural gas is well positioned to lead the U.S. energy sector.
Chemical companies rely on it and demand from exports is brisk, according to Koch. With Louisiana’s energy infrastructure in place, he says the Haynesville Shale natural gas deposit will be busy again.
“As we look longer term at some of the other opportunities and the need for natural gas in this country, we’re going to need a lot of it. There’s going to be people looking at the Haynesville, and looking at all these other gas plays -- wet or dry -- and seeing opportunity and coming to drill wells and produce from those wells,” Koch said from his Washington D.C. office.
Koch has kept an eye on recent permits in the liquefied natural gas market that are clustered in the Gulf Coast region. He says chemical companies recognize Louisiana’s energy reserves and infrastructure and will look to expand in the state.
“Places like Louisiana are better positioned. They have supply chains and the networks of rail and pipelines that have already been built or are under construction,” Koch said. “I think it’s going to optimize the opportunities in places like Louisiana, and companies are recognizing that already.”
Koch’s presentation is set for Wednesday, April 30, at 8 a.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bossier City as part of the Bossier Chamber’s Pancakes and Politics series.
