Downstream Natural Gas Initiative

The Downstream Natural Gas Initiative (DSI) is a group of leading natural gas utilities collaborating to address key technical and regulatory challenges related to the role of natural gas in a low carbon future. The Initiative is focused on opportunities for expanding natural gas end-use markets and leveraging existing infrastructure to support near- and long-term environmental and economic goals. To explore the opportunities for and challenges to natural gas in a low carbon future, DSI will concentrate on three priority topics in 2019:

• Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Distribution Systems. DSI will continue its engagement with EPA on the Methane Challenge program and GHG emissions inventories, provide updates on state and federal methane regulations, and work with diverse stakeholders on the development of technologies and strategies to better understand and limit methane leaks from the distribution system.
• Renewable Natural Gas. DSI will work to identify RNG opportunities for LDCs and address barriers to integrating RNG into natural gas distribution systems. This work will cover a number of interconnected areas, including engagement with federal and state policymakers, exploration of business models that facilitate injection of RNG into distribution systems, and RNG market development strategies.
• Decarbonization Pathways. As states begin to explore options for achieving long-term climate goals, states and NGOs have initiated pathways analyses to model the energy and economic impacts of deep decarbonization. Policies based on decarbonization analyses have the potential to significantly influence the role of natural gas in the future, including in the distribution sector. In 2019, DSI will collaborate to share approaches on decarbonization, engage with outside stakeholders, including state policymakers and NGOs, and assess decarbonization pathways analyses, including identifying key questions and information gaps associated with current analyses.

MJB&A provides technical and policy support to partners, and facilitates outreach efforts with government, environmental, and other stakeholders.

Current partners include:

• CenterPoint Energy
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York
• National Grid
• NiSource
• Pacific Gas & Electric
• Vermont Gas
• Xcel Energy

Contacts

Robert LaCount, Executive Vice President

rlacount@mjbradley.com

+1 202-347-7266

Brian Jones, Senior Vice President

bjones@mjbradley.com

+1 978-369-5533