The natural gas system delivers 32 percent of US energy spanning 2.3 million miles. Natural gas is used to generate electricity, to manufacture all manner of products — from paper plates to potato chips, to heat water and buildings — and increasingly, to fuel medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, such as delivery trucks, refuse trucks, and transit buses. Recent work with fleets in the Pacific Northwest has shown that Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is significantly cheaper than Diesel, that it can reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions by 50 to 100 percent, and that RNG-powered trucks and buses are reliable and commercially available today.
While providing reliable and inexpensive energy, Northwest gas utilities are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. For example, they are investing in projects that will deliver low-carbon RNG to their customers. Gas utilities continue to improve their systems and invest in new technologies that reduce their operating footprints. They promote energy efficiency through weatherization and by incentivizing high-efficiency space and water heaters. And, utilities are investigating opportunities to use excess clean electricity, (e.g.: wind energy and hydropower during Spring months; solar energy during the summer) to produce zero-carbon hydrogen that utilizes the existing natural gas infrastructure for use later during hot or cold weather events.
These are just a few of the reasons why Northwest companies and household consumers can rely on the natural gas delivery infrastructure to contribute to our clean energy future safely, reliably, and affordably.
Guest Blog: By Alex Schay, Co-Founder of the NW Alliance for Clean TransportationFor more information about the NW Alliance for Clean Transportation, please visit www.nwalliance.net.