Southern Company Gas Advances Renewable Natural Gas Integration for Sustainable Energy Solutions
- Southern Company Gas completed renewable natural gas purchases to enhance clean fuel portfolios and reduce emissions significantly.
- The company aims for net-zero direct greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, integrating RNG into its existing infrastructure.
- Virginia Natural Gas collaborates on a biogas conversion facility, promoting clean energy and local sustainability initiatives.
Southern Company Gas Takes Major Steps Towards Renewable Natural Gas Integration
Southern Company Gas is advancing its commitment to sustainable energy with the recent completion of renewable natural gas (RNG) purchases by its subsidiaries, Virginia Natural Gas and Chattanooga Gas. These new acquisitions aim to enhance their clean fuel portfolios and are anticipated to avoid lifecycle emissions of approximately 18,978 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). This impact is substantial, equating to the carbon sequestration achieved by nearly 19,036 acres of U.S. forests each year. The RNG is sourced from methane emissions produced by the decomposition of organic waste in landfills, agricultural sites, and wastewater treatment facilities, thereby significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The integration of RNG into existing natural gas infrastructure and appliances represents a critical step in the transition to more sustainable energy solutions. Bryan Batson, Executive Vice President of Southern Company Gas, underlines the company’s commitment to cleaner fuels and their ambitious goal of achieving net-zero direct greenhouse gas emissions from operations by 2050. This latest round of RNG purchases builds on earlier acquisitions made in 2023 and showcases Southern Company Gas's strategic approach to incorporating renewable energy into its operations. The environmental attributes associated with these RNG purchases are sourced from facilities in Texas, further diversifying the company’s clean energy portfolio.
Supportive policies in Virginia and Tennessee, notably the Virginia Energy Innovation Act and the Sustainable Gas Program, play an instrumental role in fostering these initiatives. These regulatory frameworks encourage the production and delivery of RNG, making it a more viable option for utilities in the region. Additionally, Virginia Natural Gas is actively collaborating with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District to create a facility that will convert biogas from organic waste into RNG. This collaboration not only helps in generating clean energy but also promotes local sustainability initiatives, reinforcing Southern Company Gas's dedication to providing cleaner energy solutions to its customers and communities.
In other developments, Virginia Natural Gas serves over 314,000 customers in southeast Virginia and has been recognized as a Top Workplace, reflecting its commitment to employee satisfaction and community engagement. For more information on Southern Company Gas's sustainability initiatives, interested parties can visit their dedicated sustainability page at www.southerncompanygas.com/sustainability.