Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. Thursday announced the launch of WGES PA Carbon Offsets, a unique product that is designed to reduce the carbon impact of WGES’ natural gas customers in Pennsylvania.

Developed in partnership with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Sterling Planet, WGES PA Carbon Offsets, initially available in the PECO utility territory, match customers’ natural gas usage with carbon offsets while also funding future clean air and water projects in Pennsylvania.

WGES is a subsidiary of WGL which offers a diverse set of energy sources including natural gas, wind, and solar as well as a range of energy solutions – generation, storage, transportation, distribution, supply, and efficiency – which serve customers in more than 25 states.

WGES PA Carbon Offsets come from methane gas capture projects in Conestoga, Lebanon and Scotland, Pa., providing independently verified environmental benefits.

A notable feature of the WGES PA Carbon Offsets product is its contributions into the PA Carbon Reduction Fund, managed by PEC, established to fund additional clean air and water projects such as tree plantings throughout the state.

“Washington Gas Energy Services is dedicated to offering market-driven solutions such as WGES PA Carbon Offsets that improve the local environment,” said Harry Warren, president of Washington Gas Energy Services. “Our partnership with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Sterling Planet will make it easy for businesses and residents to reduce their carbon footprints while supporting environmental projects in Pennsylvania.”

WGES PA Carbon Offsets will now be matched to 5 percent of all residential customers’ natural gas usage and 3.5 percent of all small commercial customers’ natural gas usage in the PECO region, covering Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

Residential and small commercial WGES customers who wish to do more for the environment have the option to choose 100 percent WGES PA Carbon Offsets to counterbalance all the carbon emissions from their natural gas usage. Large commercial customers have the option to customize the percent of their natural gas that is matched with carbon offsets.

“The commitment to making a positive environmental impact exemplified by Washington Gas Energy Services and Sterling Planet through WGES PA Carbon Offsets demonstrates the demand for carbon reduction options among Pennsylvania residents and businesses,” said Paul King, president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. “The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is proud to be involved in this initiative that will have an immediate effect as well as create sustainable change for the future of the region.”

WGES plans to work with other natural gas utilities in Pennsylvania to offer WGES PA Carbon Offsets to additional residential and commercial customers throughout the state.

“Sterling Planet is working tirelessly with its national accounts, key industries and retail energy consumers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nationwide and is delighted to take the leadership role with Washington Gas Energy Services in setting up the Pennsylvania Carbon Reduction Fund,” said Mel Jones, chief executive officer and president at Sterling Planet. “We pioneered the concept of reinvesting in the local environment and are dedicated to continually forging partnerships that create a local environmental benefit.”

To learn more, visit WGES PA Carbon Offsets webpage.

NewsClips:

A Green Option For PECO Gas Customers

Washington Gas Carbon Offset Product With PEC In PECO Territory

1/27/2014