James Kerr

Chief Executive Officer, President & Chairman of Southern Company Gas, Southern Company

Search every verified James Kerr interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. At the POLITICO Energy Summit on June 10, 2025, James Kerr, chairman, president, and CEO of Southern Company Gas, discussed the role of natural gas in meeting rising U.S. energy demand. He described natural gas as foundational and abundant, citing its lower carbon emissions relative to other fossil fuels and its affordability compared to other energy sources. Kerr stated that the interstate pipeline system has not kept pace with demand driven by increased electricity generation, direct use, and exports, and he called for investment in infrastructure to move natural gas from sources to areas of use. Kerr also addressed policy and demand trends, saying that the prior administration made decisions to disadvantage natural gas through building codes and efficiency standards, costs he said are ultimately borne by households. He attributed growing demand to technological advances, reshoring of supply chains, and the AI race, which he framed as a matter of national and energy security. He noted that Southern Company Gas serves 2.5 million customers in northern Illinois and said that on a peak day, the natural gas system there produces about five times the energy of the local electric provider at roughly four times the cost.