Latest Data Shows Increased Natural Gas Savings and Emissions Reductions
Washington, D.C. – Americans continue to save money and improve their environmental footprint by using natural gas, according to the 2015 American Gas Association (AGA) Playbook, released today. The freshly updated guide for natural gas information shows that natural gas customers saved an average of $693 per year from 2012-2013 while reducing their carbon dioxide emissions by half a million metric tons. In addition, emissions from distribution pipelines dropped an additional six percent in 2014 as utilities continued to upgrade and modernize infrastructure to enhance safety.
"The discussion about our nation’s energy future must be fact-based, and the 2015 AGA Playbook shows that our nation’s abundance of natural gas continues to deliver environmental and energy efficiency solutions while providing reliable, affordable energy," said AGA President and CEO Dave McCurdy. "With more than a century of expertise, natural gas utilities are a trusted resource for customers, policymakers, regulators and the media, as we all seek meaningful energy solutions."
The AGA Playbook is the essential handbook for understanding natural gas and how local natural gas utilities are delivering America’s energy to help achieve our nation’s economic, environmental and energy security goals. The 2015 edition contains the latest facts and data surrounding natural gas and its role in American life, including information about pipeline safety, natural gas supply and usage, responsible resource development, economic benefits, key facts regarding emissions, energy efficiency, cybersecurity and more.
Current national trends highlighted in the updated Playbook show that:
- Natural gas customers are saving more money, more energy and emitting less carbon than ever before.
Average yearly savings for households using natural gas appliances increased $40 between 2012 and 2013. In 2013, households using natural gas appliances saved an average of $693 per year compared to households using other energy choices. Utilities helped customers save 136 trillion Btu of energy and offset 7.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2012, an increase of 11 trillion and 0.6 million from 2011 respectively.
- Safety remains a core value for natural gas utilities.
Pipeline incidents have declined approximately 40 percent over the past three decades as natural gas utilities continue to work to enhance safety. Natural gas utilities spend $19 billion annually and take a number of voluntary actions to help enhance the safety of natural gas distribution and transmission systems
- Emissions from natural gas distribution systems continue to decline.
Emissions from natural gas systems dropped another 6 percent from 2014. In total, emissions from natural gas distribution systems have dropped 22 percent since 1990, even as the industry has added more than 600,000 miles of pipeline to serve over 17 million more customers.
- Natural gas utilities continue to increase investments in energy efficiency programs.
Utilities invested $1.1 billion in energy efficiency programs in 2012 and 2013, an increase of $100 million from 2011.
- More states are pursuing strategies to expand and enhance natural gas infrastructure.
Eight additional states are pursuing natural gas growth through innovative expansion proposals, growing the number from 17 states in 2014 to a total of 25 today. Meanwhile, 38 states have adopted specific rate mechanisms that foster accelerated replacement of pipelines no longer fit for service, supporting enhanced safety, reliability and performance of natural gas delivery systems.
The 2015 AGA Playbook also details the record performance of natural gas utilities during the winter of 2013-2014 and includes information on the latest natural gas utility initiatives to enhance safety, cyber and physical security and further reduce emissions, including the AGA Peer Review Program, the Downstream Natural Gas Information Sharing and Analysis Center and Voluntary Emissions Reductions Guidelines.
