By: Wendell Dallas, President and CEO, Nicor Gas
I am proud to work at a company that provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable natural gas to 2.3 million customers in 650 northern Illinois communities every day of the year. I began my career as an engineer and have worked in the natural gas industry for more than 30 years, so when I’m involved in discussions on how we will reach net zero and why it is so important, my analytical side comes out.
Everyone wants to reach net zero, but it’s a walk, not a sprint. Currently, 75% of the natural gas and electricity energy needs of our customers are met by natural gas in the Northern Illinois region. Natural gas has to be, and is, part of the solution to reach that goal, and collaboration within the energy industry as a whole, our customers and our legislators is key.
Net zero describes the amount of greenhouse gases that are removed from the atmosphere being equal to those emitted by human activity. Understanding where energy comes from and how to integrate existing energy sources with new technologies is one of the challenges I am taking on as the new president and CEO of Nicor Gas.
We believe the best approach is an “all of the above” energy strategy that capitalizes on the unique benefits that natural gas, renewables, electricity, nuclear power and negative carbon initiatives provide and use them in a portfolio approach.
Recently, we along with our parent company, Southern Company, announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Fox Valley and Northern Fox Valley to build two carbon neutral affordable housing communities in Chicagoland called Smart Neighborhoods™. Communities planned in Aurora and Northern Fox Valley will total 30 single-family homes equipped with a combination of renewable, electric and natural gas technologies.
In addition to Smart Neighborhoods’ advanced energy technologies, they also provide opportunities to create jobs, diverse business partnerships, economic development and green transportation options. The homes come with high efficiency building envelopes, distributed energy resources and smart home appliances that require less energy, therefore lowering monthly bills. Solar panels and battery storage solutions complement electric and natural gas technologies for the most cost-efficient, resilient path to reducing our carbon footprint.
There is a strong push not only right here at home, but across the country and around the globe to rely fully on renewables as a sole energy source. However, we know that there are not enough renewables to drive sustainable service for residential and business users. It requires a partnership between natural gas, electricity and renewables to successfully meet the needs of our customers.
Natural gas is a flexible fuel for fast-ramping generation and reliable energy storage to minimize the risk of power disruptions and blackouts or brownouts during periods of peak demand. Existing natural gas infrastructure can also transport clean fuels such as renewable natural gas. In fact, most people do not realize that natural gas has been a key driver of emissions reductions and will continue to be for decades to come.
Public utilities, including Nicor Gas, are already working hard to educate our customers and decision-makers about why natural gas must be part of an affordable and sustainable clean energy future. We have the unique opportunity to show how innovative we can be through our “all of the above” approach to reach our net zero goals.
With Smart Neighborhood, we are demonstrating our intention to lead by serving customers who are in the greatest need. Eligible Smart Neighborhood residents will enjoy inexpensive mortgages through Habitat for Humanity as well as state-of-the-art appliances, while lowering their monthly energy bill and reducing their carbon footprint. As these technologies advance, it’s critical that homes equipped with energy efficient technologies remain an affordable option – not a luxury – so that everyone can enjoy the savings for years to come.
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