LINCOLN, Neb. – Nov. 2, 2022 – In response to customers’ growing interest in sustainable energy options, Black Hills Energy today announced plans to offer a voluntary renewable natural gas (RNG) and carbon offset program for residential and small business customers. The program, submitted to the Nebraska Public Service Commission (NPSC) for approval, would allow participants to offset 100% or more of the emissions associated with their own natural gas usage.
“Our customers have told us they are interested in sustainable energy and we’re listening,” said Jarosz. “We’ve designed this voluntary RNG and carbon offset program with their direct feedback in mind, cultivated over the past two years through customer surveys which indicated 56% would be interested in participating in a voluntary RNG and carbon offset program.”
As proposed, customers who opt-in to this program would be able to purchase fixed price “blocks” at $5 per block, representing a portion of emissions from their natural gas usage. One block would offset the equivalent of 20.5 therms of natural gas, which amounts to approximately 33% of an average residential Nebraska customer’s monthly usage. Based on customer preference, participants could purchase enough blocks to offset more than 100% of the direct emissions associated with their natural gas usage. This would be achieved through a combination of carbon offset credits and renewable natural gas attributes.
“We applaud Black Hills Energy for their leadership in sustainability,” said Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. “Through this innovative offering, Lincoln residents will have the opportunity to take meaningful actions to help slow the pace of climate change and support our shared vision of a cleaner energy future for all.”
Pending approval by the NPSC, the company plans to offer the voluntary RNG and carbon offset program to customers as a four-year pilot program starting in 2023 and running through 2026.
“By piloting this program, we will have a better opportunity to shape the program to meet the expectations of our customers,” continued Jarosz. “We’ll take this time to study a variety of performance factors such as customer interest and enrollments, which in turn, have the potential to drive growth in the carbon offset market and in renewable natural gas development across the communities we serve.”
Black Hills Energy News
-
LINCOLN, Neb.– July 27, 2023 – Black Hills Energy today announced the release of its 2022 Sustainability Report highlighting the company’s progress on climate goals and its economic and charitable impact in Nebraska. “We are pleased to share our progress to create a cleaner energy future for…
-
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…
-
CHEYENNE, Wyo.– July27, 2023 – Black Hills Energy strives to improve the communities we serve, and today’s release of our 2022 Sustainability Report shows those efforts are paying off. The annual report not only details the progress we’ve made toward achieving our energy strategy goals, but also…
-
PUEBLO, Colo., July 24, 2023 – Black Hills Energy strives to improve the communities we serve, and today’s release of our 2022 Sustainability Report shows those efforts are paying off. The annual report not only details the progress we’ve made toward achieving our climate goals, but also the…