Virginia Natural Gas Procures Additional Next Generation Natural Gas as Part of Its Commitment to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Dec. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With a continued commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the natural gas value chain, Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) announced today it will increase the amount of its natural gas supply that is procured, transported or delivered by companies committed to lowering methane emissions – VNG refers to this natural gas as "Next Generation Natural Gas."

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VNG has entered into new agreements with several natural gas suppliers, resulting in up to one-third of its customers' annual demand as of November 1 being supplied with "Next Generation Natural Gas."

"Virginia Natural Gas is a leader in the industry for these types of transactions," said Robert Duvall, VNG president. "Our customers can have confidence knowing our team is focused on supplying natural gas to make certain our region's energy is safe, reliable, economical and lower carbon. This transaction demonstrates our strong relationship with energy companies focused on reducing methane emissions efficiently and effectively during the production cycle."

Since October 2019, VNG has procured natural gas that has been certified to have been produced with lower greenhouse gas emissions as part of its broader commitment to seek gas supply that has been sourced, transported and distributed by companies that have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to less than 1% across the natural gas value chain.

"Natural gas is foundational to a low carbon future and critical as more clean energy solutions are developed," added Duvall. "Virginia Natural Gas is a strong advocate for the development of collaborative efforts that support reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with natural gas and the infrastructure that transports it, making a 'wellhead to burner tip' supply chain of increasingly lower-emission natural gas for customers."

VNG has entered into its first certified natural gas transaction with bp, a leading natural gas marketer in the US, for natural gas combined with a MiQ methane emissions performance certificate. Beginning in 2023, the certificates that are combined with the natural gas purchased as part of the bp - VNG agreement will be sourced from 70 onshore wells located in bp's Haynesville basin in Louisiana. The certificates have been independently certified by MiQ, a globally recognized, non-profit natural gas certification entity under the MiQ Standard for Methane Emissions Performance¹.

READ more on how VNG is supporting net zero and a clean energy future.

About Virginia Natural Gas

Virginia Natural Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Virginia Natural Gas provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable natural gas service to more than 300,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in southeast Virginia. Consistently ranked in the top quartile for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, the company also has been recognized by the Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) and the Virginia Oil and Gas Association for its safety, innovation, environmental stewardship, community outreach and educational programs, and has been named Local Distribution Company of the Year five times since 2015. The company has been ranked by its business customers as one of the most Trusted Business Partners in the utility industry according to Cogent Reports, and a Top Workplaces in Hampton Roads by Inside Business. For more information, visit virginianaturalgas.com.

About Southern Company Gas

Southern Company Gas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.3 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

¹ https://miq.org/the-technical-standard/

SOURCE Virginia Natural Gas