Northeast Gas Association (NGA)

The Northeast Gas Association (NGA) is an association of natural gas firms dealing in distribution and transmission in the Northeast United States and of groups affiliated with the industry. The Northeast Gas Association promotes training, safety, and technological advances in natural gas. Despite findings that indicate natural gas produces less carbon dioxide emissions than other conventional fuels, left-of-center groups were found to have raised four times the amount of money fighting against all fossil fuels including natural gas than industry associations have raised to defend their practices. 1 NGA, with its subsidiary NYSEARCH, continues seeking technological advances in natural gas efficiency and safety.

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(6)
Issue Areas: Energy Policy
Founded:

1926

President and CEO:

Jose M. Costa

Location: Needham, MA View on map
Tax ID: 04-1662000
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $14,549,390 Revenue: $21,815,649 Expenses: $21,681,014

Contents

    History

    The Northeast Gas Association is a regional trade association for natural gas in the Northeast U.S. 2 The Northeast Gas Association focuses on training, technology research and development, planning, operations, and outreach and development of natural gas. 2

    NGA was established in 2003 from two predecessors, the New England Gas Association (founded in 1926) and the New York Gas Group (founded in 1973). 2 Northeast Gas Association members provide natural gas to over 13 million people in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 2

    Programs

    The Northeast Gas Association represents natural gas distribution companies, transmission companies, liquified natural gas importers, and associated companies. 2 NGA maintains five standing committees for members including operations, mutual aid, sales and marketing, planning, and natural gas vehicles. 3

    The Northeast Gas Association provides training and qualifications to meet government rules and mandates in the natural gas industry. 4 Training programs offered through NGA include operator qualification, pipe joining qualification, safety and emergency response training programs with the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, welding qualifications, operations training, leadership and professional development training, and pipeline safety regulation workshops. 4

    The Northeast Gas Association has a voluntary sub-organization, NYSEARCH, that provides research and development to NGA members and other natural gas provides across the United States. 5 NYSEARCH was formed in the 1990s by the New York Gas Group and became part of NGA upon the merger of the organizations. 6 NYSEARCH conducts research and monitors operations to lower costs and increase safety in the areas of pipeline technology and remote access; pipe location and damage control; leak detection; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; gas quality; improved installation, maintenance, and repair; advanced piping and joining; and evaluation of new materials and technologies from other industries to help natural gas services. 7

    The Northeast Gas Association hosts events and workshops on products and services, contractor events to meet with companies, and twice-yearly operations conferences on technology and safety. 8 NGA produces reports on technology, research, and developments including natural gas efficiency, natural gas vehicles, off-system portable delivery, and gas and power generation. 9 The Northeast Gas Association has produced a report and is working regionally to produce “bio gas” made from waste from landfills, wastewater treatment plants, dairy farms, discarded food, or wood residues. 10 The Northeast Gas Association also provides information on job openings, market trends and indicators, service area maps, gas safety awareness, regulatory filings, and trending issues. 11

    NGO Opposition to Natural Gas

    The Northeast Gas Association holds that natural gas power produces lower carbon dioxide emissions per kilowatt hour than other form of fossil fuels. 12 NGA also cites an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finding that natural gas powered vehicles produce less carbon dioxide emissions than oil and almost half of coal-powered energy-sourced fuel vehicles. 12

    Author Robert Bryce found that non-governmental organization (NGO) groups were funding environmental groups and anti-hydrocarbon and anti-nuclear groups by more than a 4 to 1 margin. 1 Among the environmental anti-natural gas NGOs, $4.5 billion was raised to oppose the use of natural gas, oppose nuclear energy, halt construction of new hydrocarbon infrastructure, raise global warming concerns, and promote select renewable energy. 1

    Funding

    In 2019, the Northeast Gas Association had net assets of $7,985,701. 13 According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2019 NGA recorded $18,443,447 in revenue and $18,134,335 in expenses. 13 In 2018, Northeast Gas Association had $13,655,824 in revenue and $13,070,180 in expenses. 14

    Leadership

    Jose M. Costa has been with the Northeast Gas Association since 2000. 15 Costa became president and CEO in November 2022 and previously was the vice president of operations services. 16 From 1998 until 2000, Costa was regional account manager at Gas Technology Institute. 17 Prior, Costa worked at the Colonial Gas Company as program manager and sales manager. 15 Costa has a MBA from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. 15

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $14,549,390 $21,815,649 $21,681,014 View
    2023 $14,808,377 $21,715,534 $22,110,271 View
    2022 $14,873,434 $19,306,054 $19,209,957 View
    2021 $15,830,312 $17,592,560 $17,500,371 View
    2020 $13,781,609 $16,604,712 $17,179,008 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 38

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Jose M CostaPRESIDENT & ASSISTANT CLERK$535,194
    Paul ArmstrongVP OPERATIONS$364,773
    Robert D WilsonVP SPECIAL PROJECTS$298,360
    Alana DalyVP of Comm. & Public Policy$290,075
    Daphne D'ZurkoVP, RD&D$225,937

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $2,245,343
    • Number of Grants: 6
    • Number of Funders: 1

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $157,5002020 United States Pipeline And Hazardous Materials Safety AdministratonOn-board power and thrust generation for the explorer family of robots for the inspection of unpiggable natural gas pipelines

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. Bryce, Robert. “The Anti-Industry Industry.” Substack. February 18, 2023. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://robertbryce.substack.com/p/the-anti-industry-industry.
    2. “About NGA.” Northeast Gas Association. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.northeastgas.org/about_intro.php.
    3. “Committees.” Northeast Gas Association. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.northeastgas.org/committees.php.
    4. “Training and Qualification.” Northeast Gas Association. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.northeastgas.org/training_qual.php.
    5. “About NYSEARCH.” NYSEARCH. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.nysearch.org/about.php.
    6. “MYSEARCH Membership.” NYSEARCH. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.nysearch.org/about.php.
    7. “Program Areas.” NYSEARCH. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.nysearch.org/programs_overview.php.
    8. “Events.” Northeast Gas Association. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.northeastgas.org/events.php.
    9. “R&D/Technology.” Northeast Gas Association. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.northeastgas.org/rd_technology.php.
    10. “Renewable Gas/Bio Gas.” Northeast Gas Association. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.northeastgas.org/renewable_natural_gas.php.
    11. “Industry Info.” Northeast Gas Association. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.northeastgas.org/industry_info.php.
    12. “Natural Gas & The Environment.” Northeast Gas Association. Accessed March 20, 2023. https://www.northeastgas.org/nat_gas_environment.php.
    13. Northeast Gas Association, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019.
    14. Northeast Gas Association, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2018.
    15. “Jose Costa.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-costa-95376913/.
    16. [1] “Personnel.” Northeast Gas Association. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.northeastgas.org/abt-personnel.php; “Jose Costa.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-costa-95376913/.
    17. [1] “Jose Costa.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-costa-95376913/