The American Petroleum Institute and America’s Natural Gas Alliance agreed to combine, with ANGA becoming a new market development group within API that will continue to promote gas as a clean, affordable energy resource. ANGA Pres. Martin J. Durbin, who worked previously at API, will head the new division there as executive director. “There is a natural synergy between our organizations,” API Pres. Jack N. Gerard said on Nov. 18 as the associations jointly announced their merger. “As a single organization, the combined skills and capabilities bring an enhanced advocacy strength to natural gas market development—ANGA’s primary mission—and the combined association’s expanded membership will provide additional lift to API’s ongoing efforts on important public policy issues.” Durbin said, “ANGA was founded in 2009 at the beginning of the shale energy revolution, and its members were visionary regarding the benefits natural gas would bring to our energy supply and our economy,” said Durbin. “Combining these two associations continues that vision by recognizing how best to organize for maximum effect.” ANGA member companies that don’t belong to API already will become full members there, the associations noted.