Piedmont Natural Gas joins EPA Methane Challenge

Piedmont Natural Gas has announced its participation in the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge programme as a founding partner. The voluntary programme is a collaborative effort between the EPA and the natural gas industry and is designed to provide a transparent platform for partners such as Piedmont to make, track, and promote commitments to voluntarily reduce methane emissions. 37 natural gas utilities nationwide are participating as founding partners in the programme.

Jane Lewis-Raymond, Piedmont's Senior Vice President and Chief Legal, Compliance, and External Relations Officer commented on Piedmont's participation saying, "Piedmont's commitment to the environment and to incorporating sustainability into all of our business practices extends far beyond a strategic directive for our company; importantly, it is one of our core values and drives everything we do. Our participation in this programme is another indication of that commitment and also enables us to build on our ongoing commitment to public safety."

Piedmont's own focus through the STAR Methane Challenge will be in the area of reducing methane emissions that result from third party excavation damages to the company's natural gas pipeline delivery system. Piedmont has committed to develop a plan to reduce such emissions within five years by evaluating its ongoing damage prevention programmes and identifying areas of process improvement. Piedmont will submit its five year plan to the EPA in the coming months.

Adapted from press release by Francesca Brindle

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/the-environment/08042016/piedmont-natural-gas-participate-in-epa-methane-challenge-2982/