FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – July 27, 2023 – Black Hills Energy released its 2022 sustainability report highlighting progress on climate goals and its economic and charitable impact in Arkansas.

“We are pleased to share our progress to create a cleaner energy future for our customers while also demonstrating the many ways Black Hills Energy is making a positive impact in our communities,” said Marc Eyre, vice president of operations for Arkansas and Kansas. “We have set challenging yet realistic goals for delivering cleaner energy with a clear path to reduce our emissions while minimizing cost impacts to our customers. Our sustainability report provides insight and transparency into our values-driven priorities.”

Throughout 2022, Black Hills Energy continued pursuing its gas utilities greenhouse gas emissions net zero by 2035 target through ongoing infrastructure investment, damage prevention and integration of low carbon fuels. Sustainability report highlights include:

• Advancements in renewable natural gas (RNG): In 2022, Black Hills Energy successfully filed and received approval for Green Forward, a voluntary, cost-effective and flexible option for customers to offset their own natural gas carbon footprint. It also established Black Hills Energy Renewable Resources, which builds on expertise and experience in RNG and natural gas asset operations as well as aligns with market demand and the path to a cleaner energy future.
• Caring for the community: The company’s community support in 2022 totaled $6.1 million, including more than $758,000 for United Way agencies and over $760,000 for its energy assistance fund, which includes a 100% match for contributions from customers and employees. Black Hills Energy’s charitable contributions and sponsorships in Arkansas totaled $532,000, and Arkansas employees volunteered over 4,400 hours last year.
• Creating value: Investing in safety, reliability and sustainability of extensive systems that support growth and sustain jobs and communities, Black Hills Energy’s direct economic impact in 2022 totaled $1.34 billion to include over $120 million in 100 Arkansas communities.
• Energy efficiency and conservation: Black Hills Energy provided nearly $9 million in energy efficiency rebates in 2022 to residential and business customers, leading to annual energy savings of about 17 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 386,000 dekatherms of natural gas – enough energy to power over 2,300 homes with electricity and about 4,900 homes with natural gas for one year. Black Hills Energy continues to educate customers on simple tips to reduce energy use at their home or business while reducing their environmental footprint.

These long-term energy efficiency efforts were again recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. For the fifth year in a row, Black Hills Energy obtained the highly regarded 2023 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award for its Arkansas service territory, and this is its third year to receive the program’s highest honor with a Sustained Excellence designation.

Learn more about the company’s net zero by 2035 target at blackhillsenergy.com/sustainability.