Interstate Natural Gas Association of America board commits to voluntary reduction of methane emissions

The board of directors of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) recently affirmed the organization’s commitment to reducing methane output from members’ gas transmission and storage facilities through adoption of several new core principles.

As of July, the board adopted three principles for the organization known as Methane Emissions Commitments. Members pledge to minimize emission from interstate natural gas pipelines and pneumatic controllers, minimize emissions from storage and compressor stations, and develop effective practices related to the detection and reduction of such emissions.

“For some time, our industry has worked to reduce product releases on our system and to minimize other methane emissions,” Don Santa, INGAA president and CEO, said. “In many ways, these principles are about continuously improving existing practices and finding new and innovative ways to minimize methane emissions from interstate natural gas transmission and storage operations in a prudent and environmentally responsible manner. Our members commit to doing this while both maintaining pipeline integrity and safe operations and minimizing adverse impacts to customers and communities.”

More than two dozen member companies have already taken that pledge. In practical terms, these pledges can take the form of such things as installing air-driven controllers with low methane leakage or repairing aging pipelines.