In 2021, we developed a comprehensive environmental strategy focused on reducing our environmental impact from our operations, fleet, facilities, gas supply, and customer end-use. We are implementing operational practices and solutions to reduce carbon from our operations through: 

• Ongoing system modernization work
• Reducing third party damage to our system
• Improving monitoring and measuring of methane emissions
• Evaluating and implementing innovative technologies
• Investing in research and development
• Expanding programs to help customers lower carbon emissions

Here is how we are executing on this strategy:

• Modernizing our system and on track to reduce methane emissions from our distribution system mains and services by 50 percent from 2017 to 2035. 
• Transporting renewable natural gas (RNG), which is produced from methane captured at farms and landfills. Municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, so those facilities represent a unique opportunity to capture, convert, and use landfill gas as a renewable energy resource. 
• Utilizing innovative methane capture and recompression technologies to significantly reduce natural gas venting and flaring during routine maintenance.    
• Building LEED certified service centers that are healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green facilities. We installated our first natural gas-powered fuel cell at one of our Dallas, Texas facilities.
• Utilizing state-of-the-art gas cloud imaging technology with continuous leak detection to monitor, control, and reduce methane emissions. 
• Continually raising awareness of safe digging practices and calling 811 before digging to our customers, communities, and excavators to reduce damage to our system. 
• Offering SmartChoice rebates for customers to purchase high-efficiency natural gas appliances, smart thermostats, and weatherization materials in our Mississippi, Colorado, Louisiana and Mid-Tex divisions. 
• Partnering with the EPA’s Methane Challenge and Natural Gas STAR programs, which are voluntary initiatives that encourage oil and natural gas companies to improve efficiency and reduce methane emissions.  
• Participating in Our Nation’s Energy Future Coalition (ONE Future), a voluntary alliance of leading companies across the natural gas supply chain focused on technology and policy solutions to drive continual improvement in the reduction of methane emissions.  
• Sponsoring the Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI), a joint project of the Electric Power Research Institute and the Gas Technology Institute designed to accelerate the commercial deployment of low- and zero-carbon technologies in the energy sector for economy-wide deep decarbonization. 

It takes all energy sources to maintain a reliable energy system that is there when you need it. The natural gas delivery system is resilient, dependable, and provides continuous energy during extreme weather conditions.

Did you know that on the coldest day of the year, the natural gas system delivers three times more energy than the electric system delivers on the hottest day of the year? 

Source: American Gas Association

Maintaining access to all types of energy helps to ensure reliability, keep costs affordable, and drive economic growth. Protecting energy choice is a key driver of our economy and helps families thrive.

Did you know that nearly 189 million Americans use natural gas to heat their homes, warm their water and cook their food?  Americans rely on natural gas because it is affordable, reliable, and essential to improving our environment. Source: American Gas Association

Natural gas is efficient energy that helps you save energy and reduce carbon emissions every month.  Households that use natural gas for space and water heating, cooking, and clothes drying have about a 20 percent lower carbon footprint than a similar all-electric home. 

Natural gas plays a critical role in supporting renewable energy by supplying reliable and affordable fuel when solar and wind energy are not readily available.

Did you know that when used directly to fuel homes and businesses, natural gas is about 2.4 times more efficient than using electricity from the grid? From the wellhead to a customer's home or business, natural gas is 92% efficient. As compared to electricity, which is only 38% efficient from generation to delivery to a customer's home or business. 

 

Source: American Gas Association