Entries by Judy

Total Electrification — Food for Thought

July 6, 2021 /0 Comments/in , /by

We enjoy a safe, reliable, and affordable energy delivery system here in the Northwest. The interdependence of two amazing but inherently different energy infrastructures make it so. One system is the machine that instantaneously conveys electricity into the farthest and most remote areas of our region. The other is the natural gas system spanning 128,000 miles (206,000 Km for those of you who prefer the metric system) that delivers warmth and comfort to ten million residents of Idaho, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and productive energy to almost 350,000 businesses, institutions, and industries that are the region’s economic engine. The two systems function very differently but are interconnected and operate seamlessly together.
That system is at risk.

On Garbage Man Day, We Celebrate Workers and Our Planet with Advancements in Renewable Gas

June 21, 2021 /0 Comments/in , /by

This week’s guest blog is by Daniel Gage, President of Natural Gas Vehicles for America.

On June 17th, we recognize the hard work of the men and women who collect our garbage and recyclables. They not only keep our communities clean, but with advancements in renewable gas technology, they’re also helping fuel their fleets with clean, renewable natural gas (RNG).

Right here in the Pacific Northwest, landfills are turning trash into renewable natural gas that is then fueling those very trucks sent to collect the waste. It’s full circle.

APRIL SAFETY MONTH — CALL BEFORE YOU DIG (Cont.)

April 21, 2021 /0 Comments/in , /by

Neglect one simple step and you could dig yourself into deep trouble. So “call before you dig.” It’s the law.  This one simple step can prevent damage, service disruptions, and potential disaster from uncharted digging into buried service facilities.  It’s the law for all of us: contractors, excavators, and homeowners.

Each utility sends employees to locate underground lines near the project with color-coded paint that identifies what kind of utility is underground. Failure to call and receive necessary guidance can prove messy at the very least, disrupt essential services, and maybe downright hazardous. Everyone, including homeowners, must call when planning to dig. Neighborhoods, especially new ones, have extensive utility lines crisscrossing under their yards.

NWGA Guest Blog:  Renewable Hydrogen Helps Natural Gas Advance Clean Energy in the Pacific Northwest

March 30, 2021 /0 Comments/in , /by

How will natural gas infrastructure advance the goal of clean energy in the Pacific Northwest? One of the most promising new technologies is called Renewable Hydrogen.
Renewable Hydrogen – or “green” hydrogen – is created by utilizing excess wind, solar or hydroelectric power to separate water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This process, called electrolysis, then delivers hydrogen into natural gas pipelines and releases the oxygen into the air. Renewable Hydrogen acts just like battery storage for excess renewable electricity. It captures the excess power so we can use it when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining, and it helps balance energy need with energy supply.

The Natural Gas System is Inherently Resilient

March 23, 2021 /0 Comments/in , /by

The natural gas system is structurally and empirically resilient, which was graphically demonstrated in Oregon’s February Ice Storm 2021, showing that while even as tens of thousands of homes lost electricity, homes with natural gas continued to have heat, cooking, and hot water. The inherent resiliency of the natural gas system can be attributed to […]

Cooking with Gas!

October 21, 2020 /0 Comments/in , /by

Cooking with gas is safe. Government agencies charged with ensuring public health (e.g. Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality; Consumer Products Safety Commission)  haven’t found any health concerns whether cooking with gas or electricity. Of course, all cooking appliances should be properly vented, if possible, regardless of the type of heat used.

The Value of Natural Gas in the Pacific Northwest: Renewable Natural Gas

October 13, 2020 /1 Comment/in , /by

Renewable natural gas is a unique resource. It allows us to capture streams of methane from the decomposition of human and agricultural waste that would otherwise be emitted directly into the atmosphere, clean it up, and put it to beneficial use. RNG significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, it allows for optimizing the use of the existing 128,000 miles of energy delivery infrastructure that serves warmth and comfort to about ten million people who live in the Pacific Northwest as well as productive energy for almost 350,000 businesses here.

Fueling Our Communities

June 9, 2020 /0 Comments/in , /by

Americans are seeing firsthand the critical role that energy plays in meeting their daily needs and how the natural gas industry is #FuelingOurCommunities. The industry keeps delivering essential energy to the homes that have become offices, schools, and gyms, and the manufacturing facilities that continue to produce food, supplies, and personal protective equipment. It continues to fuel the frontline facilities where healthcare professionals are fighting COVID-19 every day. Providing affordable energy will boost an economic recovery that we all hope is on the horizon.

DIGGING SAFELY THIS SPRING MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

April 15, 2020 /0 Comments/in , /by

April heralds the advent of spring, including warmer weather and sunshine in the Pacific Northwest. Spring means more construction as well as tending to and planting gardens and other vegetation. Both activities involve digging.

That is why April is National Safe Digging Month. Before digging a hole more than 12 inches deep for any purpose, it is critical to “know what’s below”. Here is a guest blog from NW Natural that includes a terrific checklist to use before digging, whether you are a contractor or a homeowner. Most importantly, always call 811 before you dig.