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Natural Gas
Innovation

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America’s natural gas utilities are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through smart innovation.

30-year lows

Natural gas efficiency and the growth of renewable energy have led to energy-related carbon dioxide emissions hitting 30-year lows.

54%

Switching from coal to natural gas for electricity generation reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 54%.

$4.3M/day

Natural gas utilities invest $4.3 million per day in energy efficiency programs to help customers install tighter-fitting windows and doors, upgrade insulation and purchase increasingly more efficient natural gas appliances.

America’s natural gas utilities are investing $125 million to advance low- and zero-carbon energy technologies and reduce emissions.

1.2% Decline in Carbon Emissions

Carbon emissions from the average natural gas home decline 1.2% per year.

Net-Zero Emissions Opportunities

A comprehensive and detailed analysis demonstrating that incorporating gas technologies, infrastructure and strategies to achieve economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050 is not a just a choice but an essential part of getting there.

The Path Forward

  • Energy Efficiency and Improved Energy Management
  • Advanced Gas End-use Technologies
  • Renewable Gases
  • Methane Mitigation Technologies and Strategies
  • Negative Emissions Technologies
  • Infrastructure Modernization
  • Workforce Development

There are multiple pathways in which natural gas and its delivery systems can and should play a crucial role in helping the U.S. reach a net-zero emissions future.

See the Study
Mockup of the AGA Net Zero Report

Renewable Natural Gas

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is pipeline compatible gaseous fuel derived from biogenic or other renewable sources that has lower lifecycle carbon dioxide equivalent emissions than geological natural gas.

RNG can be produced from various waste streams including farms, landfills and water resource recovery facilities or from renewable electricity.

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is carbon neutral, versatile and fully compatible with the U.S. pipeline system, so it can lower emissions in homes, businesses and heavy industries, such as manufacturing.

Utilities throughout the country are starting to offer RNG to their customers as another option to lower household emissions.

Power to Gas

Renewable electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through a process called electrolysis. This renewable hydrogen can be blended into the pipeline or combined with CO2 to create RNG.

Anaerobic Digestion

The most common way to produce RNG today, organic material such as animal or plant waste is broken down by microorganisms creating methane.

Thermal Gasification

Low moisture biomass such as forestry waste or crop residue is converted into RNG through a high-pressure chemical process.

Gas utilities will play a critical role in building a clean hydrogen economy.

The U.S. possess the most extensive gas pipeline delivery network in the world, and extensive research and testing is underway now to make leveraging this infrastructure to deliver clean hydrogen in the future a reality.

Using our extensive natural gas system to deliver new forms of energy such as hydrogen is a critical component of our nation’s ability to reach ambitious greenhouse gas reductions goals.

The clean hydrogen of tomorrow is being sought after as a decarbonization solution in nearly all energy sectors, from power generation and transportation to manufacturing and heating of homes and businesses.

Zero Carbon Emissions

Hydrogen does not create any carbon emissions when it’s used for energy. The only byproduct is water vapor.

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