Essential Utilities has published its 2020 Environmental, Social, Governance report. This is the first Essential ESG report that includes Peoples’ emission reductions targets.
Peoples and the Environment
We are constantly working hard to help protect the environment for our families, customers, communities, and future generations. Our commitment to the environment is one of our core pillars, and it is woven into everything we do.
Partnerships and Programs
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Partnering with the EDF to Reduce Methane
In 2016, we joined 32 other natural gas utilities to launch the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program. These 33 founding partners serve 66% of the natural gas customers in the nation.
As a founding partner of the Methane Challenge, we believe that this program is an essential piece of our commitment to preserve the environment. To uphold our commitment, we will continue to make infrastructure improvements and introduce new technology that will help to significantly reduce methane emissions.
With that in mind, in 2019 we announced a revitalized effort with the Environmental Defense Fund and Carnegie Mellon University to leverage their cutting-edge technologies and resources. By outfitting one of our vehicles with the latest in methane detection technology, we can map methane emissions around the City of Pittsburgh, analyze the data, and better prioritize pipeline repair and replacement efforts.
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Tree Pittsburgh and TreeVitalize Pittsburgh
We’re partnering with Tree Pittsburgh and TreeVitalize Pittsburgh to grow the tree population of Allegheny County. We are committed to protecting the environment, and with more trees along roadways, we can also reduce runoff and make our roads safer! Last year, our employees planted trees alongside two of our pipeline restoration projects. -
The National Aviary
Last year, we helped the National Aviary raise $35,000 to support their Avian Conservation Fund. If you've never visited the Aviary, you're missing out! Stop by for the chance to see some amazing things...like the work they do to protect African Penguins. And be sure to take a look at this 360 video of a penguin feeding! -
Westmoreland Conservation District
Peoples' partnership with the Westmoreland Conservation District started in the late 1960s when one of our employees, J. Roy Houston, began to get involved with the organization. Roy then became the District's chairman and its greatest champion, and was an advocate for the WCD for four decades. Today, we continue to uphold Roy's legacy by not only supporting the Westmoreland Conservation District and all of the phenomenal work they do, but by finding new ways we, at Peoples, can make conservation a part of our everyday practices.
"For 65 years, the Westmoreland Conservation District has been successfully encouraging loggers, earthmovers, developers, farmers, and others whose daily work directly affects our natural resources to voluntarily incorporate conservation practices in their projects, and so protect the quality of the soil, forests, and streams." We are proud to support this mission, and we look forward to continuing our partnership and our friendship for many years to come.