RICHMOND, Va., March 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion (NYSE: D)
was recognized today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as
a Founding Partner in the EPA's Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge
Program, which will provide a new mechanism for oil and natural gas
companies to measure and reduce methane emissions.
The voluntary Methane Challenge is one of the key elements of
President Obama's Climate Action Plan announced in March 2014. As a part of this partnership,
Dominion has committed to voluntarily reducing and publicly
disclosing methane emission reductions from its interstate natural
gas pipeline and distribution companies over the next five
years.
"By participating in this program, Dominion will continue to
demonstrate a leadership position to achieve sustainable
environmental improvements while at the same time operating our
businesses in a safe and reliable manner," said, Diane Leopold, president, Dominion Energy.
"Reducing methane emissions is a positive step for the environment,
for our customers and for our business."
Dominion's local distribution companies — Dominion East Ohio and
Dominion Hope — operate more than 22,000 miles of natural gas
pipeline and serve 1.3 million customers in Ohio and West
Virginia. Dominion Transmission's system operates 7,800
miles of interstate pipeline in six states and one of the
largest natural gas storage systems in the U.S.
Dominion's distribution companies will implement a program to
measure and report methane reductions achieved as a result of its
aggressive replacement program covering approximately 5,700 miles
of remaining bare steel, cast iron and ineffectively coated-steel
pipelines on gas mains and service lines. Combined, both companies
will invest more than $4 billion to
complete pipeline infrastructure replacements.
Dominion Transmission plans to reduce methane emissions by
enhancing the process related to gas lost from pipelines that
occurs during planned maintenance activities.
EPA announced the voluntary methane reduction program last July,
which covers the entire natural gas sector from production to
customer delivery. The program is the next generation of EPA's
Natural Gas STAR program, with more emphasis on transparency and
increased reporting for both annual emissions and reductions
achieved through implementation of measures. Dominion
Transmission, Dominion East Ohio and Dominion Hope are part of
EPA's Natural Gas STAR program.
About Dominion
Dominion is one of the nation's largest
producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of
approximately 24,300 megawatts of generation, 12,200 miles of
natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,500
miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the
nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 933 billion cubic
feet of storage capacity, and provides energy or products and
services to more than five million customers in 14 states. For more
information about Dominion, visit the company's website
at www.dom.com.
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SOURCE Dominion Resources