AGL Resources named Natural Gas STAR Continuing Excellence Award winner by EPA
ATLANTA, Ga. – October 20, 2009 – AGL Resources (NYSE: AGL) today announced that it has been named a recipient of the Natural Gas STAR Continuing Excellence award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The award recognizes the company’s efforts to reduce emissions during the past 15 years.
EPA’s Natural Gas STAR Program encourages oil and natural gas companies to adopt cost-effective technologies and practices that improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions of methane – a potent greenhouse gas and clean energy source. The Continuing Excellence award is presented based on a company submitting an annual report on a regular basis, in conjunction with a high level of performance according to the criteria used for Partner of the Year.
“Our ongoing commitment to renewing our pipeline infrastructure has resulted in a trend of greenhouse gas emissions reductions by AGL Resources’ gas distribution utilities,” said Ira Pearl, vice president of Technology and Environmental Sustainability.
During the 2006-2008 timeframe, AGL Resources’ pipeline replacement program has resulted in reduced greenhouse gas emissions of nearly 3 percent, based on carbon dioxide emissions per mile of gas main, Pearl said.
“In addition – through a combination of more energy-efficient company vehicles, home basing of some employees and improved route-optimization software – we have reduced automobile-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than 26 percent during that same period,” Pearl said. “AGL Resources and our local distribution companies are very proud of these accomplishments, and we are committed to continuing these efforts.”
Looking ahead, AGL Resources has a slate of infrastructure improvements planned and underway at two of the six local natural gas distribution companies that it operates along the East Coast.
At Elizabethtown Gas in New Jersey, the company has embarked on a two-year, $60 million pipeline replacement and reinforcement program. In addition to the environmental and system improvements, these pipeline upgrades are expected to create approximately 65 engineering, design and construction jobs in the state and include:
- Replacement of 29 miles of elevated pressure 10" and 12" cast iron main
- Replacement of 40 miles of low pressure 4" cast iron main
- Construction of six miles of eight-inch main between Franklin Township and Sparta
- Construction of 20 miles of 12-inch main between Washington Township and Newton
At Atlanta Gas Light, the company is in the midst of a Pipeline Replacement Program that began in 1998. The program has replaced approximately 2,200 miles of aging bare steel and cast iron pipe in Georgia, resulting in enhanced system safety and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
About AGL Resources
AGL Resources (NYSE: AGL), an Atlanta-based energy services company, serves approximately 2.3 million customers in six states. The company also owns Houston-based Sequent Energy Management, an asset manager serving natural gas wholesale customers throughout North America. As a current 70-percent owner in the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural Gas brand. The company also owns and operates Jefferson Island Storage & Hub, a high-deliverability natural gas storage facility near the Henry Hub in Louisiana. For more information, visit www.aglresources.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain expectations regarding the future pipeline replacement and reinforcement program at Elizabethtown Gas referenced in this press release are forward-looking statements. Our expectations are not guarantees and are based on currently available information. While we believe our expectations are reasonable in view of currently available information, our expectations are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties, and there are several factors - many beyond our control - that could cause results to differ significantly from our expectations. Such events, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of changes in state and federal legislation and regulation including changes related to climate change; the impact on cost and timeliness of construction projects by government and other approvals, development project delays, adequacy of supply of diversified vendors, unexpected change in project costs, including the cost of funds to finance these projects; uncertainties about environmental issues and the related impact of such issues; and other factors which are provided in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we incorporate by reference in this press release. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements to reflect subsequent changes.
Contact: Alan Chapple
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Office: 404-584-4095
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