Renewable natural gas (RNG) is pipeline-quality biogas created from the decomposition of organic material through anaerobic digestion. The organic material includes things like animal waste, woody biomass, crop residuals, energy crops and food waste. It is sourced from waste streams and renewable biomass sources, such as farms, landfills, wastewater treatment plants and industrial sites. Renewable natural gas is interchangeable with traditional natural gas, and fully compatible with the U.S. pipeline infrastructure. Like traditional natural gas, RNG can be used in homes and businesses, in manufacturing and heavy industries, for electricity production and as transportation fuel. Renewable natural gas has the potential to play a significant role in the future energy mix. Renewable natural gas is one of the few options that can reduce greenhouse gas, create jobs and enhance America’s energy security, using proven and available technologies.

For more information, we encourage you to look at the AGA site here: https://www.aga.org/research/reports/renewable-natural-gas-rng/ and the recent report from National Grid here: https://www9.nationalgridus.com/non_html/NG_renewable_WP.pdf

Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc. (Summit) is committed to a sustainable energy future. Since coming to Maine six years ago, the company has put a strong focus on investing in energy efficiency and converting homes, small businesses and industrial customers from oil and propane to cleaner burning natural gas to reduce carbon emissions. We established our Renewable Natural Gas Attribute Program as the next step in our ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in innovative technologies that mitigate climate change. Renewable natural gas can help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase domestic energy production, improve waste management, and be an innovative source for new green jobs, all while using a gas infrastructure system that is already in place and safely supplying energy throughout the country today.

Renewable natural gas attributes are the environmental and social qualities associated with the production of RNG. When RNG is produced, RNG attributes are created. Money from the purchase of RNG attributes is used to support RNG projects.

Yes. With approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission, we are offering the program to all of our customers. In addition, we matched 5 percent of residential gas demand for 2019 by purchasing – at no cost to customers – RNG attributes created at an RNG-producing landfill. Through our purchases of RNG attributes, we deepened our commitment to a more sustainable energy future, raising awareness of RNG and encouraging customers and other utilities to support RNG.

Customers can participate in the program by calling our customer service team at (800) 909-7642. Once you sign up, we will add an additional amount to your bill each month and use that money, along with the money contributed by other program participants, to purchase RNG attributes.

Residential and Small Commercial Customers may elect to fund RNG attribute purchases equivalent to a 10%, 25%, 50% or 100% of a typical customer’s natural gas usage. Large Commercial and Transportation customers should contact our customer service team for more information about their participation levels.

We purchase the attributes in bulk, and you pay what we pay. The Voluntary Renewable Natural Gas Attribute Program is being offered as a flat monthly charge, based on the percentage the participant chooses. The monthly charge will be added to each participant’s bill and based on a price of $10 per mmbtu times the amount of usage the participant elects to match. The monthly charge for each of the percentages available to Residential and Small Commercial Customers are shown:

Residential Customers

Small Commercial Customers

Right now, we are not aware of any pipeline quality RNG being produced in Maine, so we have purchased RNG attributes associated with RNG produced at a landfill in Oklahoma. A report detailing the inspection of the facility can be found here.

Yes. Customers enrolled in the Voluntary Renewable Natural Gas Program can call our customer service team at any time to cancel their participation in the program or change their percentage.

No. Customers who do not participate in the Voluntary Renewable Natural Gas Program will not pay more for their natural gas because they are not participating..

Summit is not required to offer an RNG attribute program. We are choosing to offer the program because of our strong commitment to sustainability and belief that many of our customers will appreciate having the option to support RNG production through their participation in the program.