UGI Utilities to begin accepting RNG into its pipeline system
UGI Utilities announced that it is starting to accept renewable natural gas (RNG) from Archaea Energy into its pipeline distribution system.
The Pennsylvania-based company expects to utilize a portion of the RNG to serve customers who purchase supply directly from UGI Utilities beginning in 2022.
This pilot program, approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. The agreement with Archaea Energy allows UGI to accept delivery of RNG produced from the Keystone Landfill in Dunmore, Pa., into its natural gas pipeline. Once fully operational, the interconnect is capable of accommodating up to 5.3 billion cubic feet of RNG supply each year. It would be the largest current RNG supply point in the United States to date.
“The approval of this pilot program is a significant step forward as we continue to develop sustainable, environmentally responsible energy solutions for our customers,” Robert Beard, executive vice president – Natural Gas, Global Engineering, Construction and Procurement at UGI, said. “UGI remains committed to developing renewable energy sources for the communities we serve.”
RNG from landfills is derived from organic waste. It is a sustainable energy source that is compatible with existing infrastructure when blended with natural gas. It also reduces the release of naturally occurring methane from the Keystone Landfill into the atmosphere. This project will reduce CO2 emissions by an amount equivalent to removing 67,000 passenger vehicles over the course of a calendar year.
