Piedmont Natural Gas named 2017 Environmental Champion in nationwide survey

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, was one of 40 U.S. utility providers named a Top Utility Environmental Champion of 2017 based on the results of a recent nationwide survey of utility customers.

The study, released by Cogent Reports and Market Strategies International, surveyed 58,000 customers among 130 of the nation’s largest residential gas and electric utility providers. The survey was conducted between the second quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 and asked customers to rate their utility company’s dedication to environmental stewardship.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as one of Cogent Reports’ top utility champions for 2017,” Frank Yoho, head of gas operations for Piedmont Natural Gas, said. “Environmental stewardship is a core value for Piedmont, and we are gratified to know that our customers are aware of and value the many ongoing initiatives Piedmont has undertaken to reduce our impact on our environment and help our customers do the same.”

Piedmont’s environmental initiatives include programs to reduce the emissions of its vehicle fleet and make its facilities more energy efficient.

In late March, Piedmont opened of a new facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina that is eligible for the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)-eligible certification, a program that recognizes sustainable building strategies and practices. The building is the fourth LEED-certified facilities in North Carolina that Piedmont operates.

The company has also converted about one-third of its corporate fleet of approximately 900 vehicles to run on compressed natural gas, which his cleaner and cheaper than other fuels. Piedmont is currently constructing its 11th public CNG refueling station, located near the junction of Interstate 40 and U.S. 321 in Hickory.