Launched in 2014, the goal of the Peoples Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP) is to replace 3,000 miles of old bare steel and cast iron pipeline in our service territory by 2034. Each mile of new pipeline has a positive effect on the environment, as it helps to significantly reduce methane emissions—a potent greenhouse gas. In addition, these upgrades improve the reliability and safety of our system.
Since the beginning of the program in 2014, Peoples has removed 714 miles of old pipeline, completing 600 or more projects a year with 60 construction crews. In 2019 alone, we removed 137 miles of pipe through the LTIIP.
“We recognize and embrace the environmental challenges facing the natural gas industry,” says Ken Lyle, Director of Restoration, “and we’re committed to taking actionable steps to reduce emissions.”
Moving forward, we will be increasing our LTIIP investment. Our goal for 2020 is to replace or retire 204 miles of bare steel pipelines. Those 204 miles will reduce CO2 emissions by 9,000 tons—that’s the equivalent of removing 1,900 cars from our roads each year.
Thanks to our ongoing Methane Mapping partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, we’re also continuing to use validation risk and ranking models and leak predictors to improve gas loss estimates, to prioritize pipeline replacement projects, and to provide before and after views of methane emissions after we’ve completed construction projects.
In addition to the LTIIP, we’re also working hard to reduce other greenhouses gases across our own operations.
Peoples is implementing a gathering systems repair program, which allows for accelerated detection and repair. We’re also employing construction techniques that help minimize methane emissions during replacement and repair activity. In addition, we’re using new equipment that allows us to capture gas used during construction and reinject it into our system.
Peoples is also using its upgraded pipeline system to capture Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). In 2020, we project that we will capture 1.7 Bcf of RNG from six landfills. That’s enough natural gas for 19,400 homes, and will reduce CO2 emissions by the equivalent of 75,000 vehicles.
In addition to our landfill gas recovery efforts, we’ll be focusing on reducing the number of diesel and gasoline operated vehicles on the road by replacing them with natural gas vehicles. According to the American Gas Association (AGA), NGVs provide 20-30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and 70-90% reduction in urban pollutants like carbon monoxide and NOx. Our Peoples fleet now has 72 NGVs, and we provide service to 26 public and private CNG stations, and three Peoples CNG stations. In 2020, we’ll be helping Waste Management to convert 72 new refuse trucks to natural gas.
Partnering with other businesses and organizations continues to play a crucial role in our strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, we’ll be focusing on opportunities with Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems and microgrids. As we announced at the end of 2019, we’ll be partnering with the Pittsburgh Airport on a microgrid project that will include a 20MW gas generator and a 2.5MW solar generation field. We’ll also be partnering with the new AHN Hospital in Wexford this year to install a central energy plant, which will include a 2MW CHP system. The traditional power generation (coal or oil) and transmission systems are less than 40% efficient, whereas CHP units can be up to 90% efficient.
"The abundant supply of clean, affordable, locally produced natural gas is not only helping to significantly reduce customer energy bills and drive economic development in our region but also has led the reduction in US greenhouse gas emissions," Lyle says. "Per AGA, natural gas in combination with renewable energy and efficiency, has contributed to US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions declining to the lowest levels in nearly 25 years."
We’re proud of the progress we’ve made so far with the LTIIP and with our other greenhouse gas mitigation efforts. As always, we will continue to explore new, creative opportunities to improve our business, serve our customers, and protect the environment we all share.
