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*AGL Resources' methane emissions report shows trend of decline in emissions since the early '90s
(*This release, originally issued on 12/15, was revised on 12/18 to clarify timeframe and emphasize the company's reductions attributed to its pipeline replacement program, which occurred over a 15-year period starting in 1998.)
ATLANTA - Dec.15, 2015 - *AGL Resources today released the findings of its 2014 methane emissions inventory, which show a 29 percent reduction in emissions. These reductions are the result of the company's efforts that began in the '90s. A majority of these reductions occurred over a 15-year period, from 1998 through 2013, and are attributed to the company's pipeline replacement program. In comparison, the gas distribution industry data shows a 22 percent reduction since the early '90s, even as industry sector pipelines grew by 30 percent. *The company is committed to its investments in system safety and reliability, which also reduce emissions; its development of corporate sustainability programs; and its founding participation in EPA's Gas STAR program. The Gas STAR program encourages industry companies to implement methane emissions-reducing technologies and practices and to document their voluntary emission reduction activities. "The gas utility sector's 22 percent reduction in methane emissions since 1990 is significant in the context of adding more than 600,000 miles, or 30 percent, of pipeline during that same period," said John Somerhalder, chairman and CEO of AGL Resources. "Strong leadership at the state level and among natural gas utility leadership has made that possible," he added. "Beginning in 1998, with the support of state regulators approving and overseeing our plans, AGL Resources pioneered an aggressive program of bare steel/cast iron pipeline replacement that is now operating in five states," said Somerhalder. "Our program has been focused primarily on safety and system modernization, priorities that highly benefit our customers and the communities we serve. Those efforts, in addition to our participation in Gas STAR beginning in 1993 and emissions savings from our landfill gas plant built in 2011, have resulted in a 29 percent reduction in emissions, placing us at the forefront of the industry." The following are highlights of the report:
The company also plans, subject to regulatory approval, to replace all remaining bare steel and cast iron pipes throughout its natural gas pipeline system by 2025. Information in the report is based on the company's collection of its own year-end 2014 data, including methane emissions from business units engaged in natural gas distribution, storage compression, liquefied natural gas storage and transmission compression. To review the report in its entirety, please click here. # # # About AGL Resources Investor Relations Contact: Media Relations Contact: |