As part of a corporate goal to achieve sustainability and reduce emissions, New Jersey Natural Gas has completely offset its fleet and facility use of natural gas with renewable energy.

All emissions from natural gas use at its facilities and from its use of compressed natural gas fleet vehicles are being offset through the purchase of Renewable Natural Gas Attributes, renewable energy credits generated from the production of renewable natural gas, according to a release from the company.

RNG, an ultra-clean fuel product, consists primarily of methane derived from the decomposition of organic sources such as food waste, landfills, dairy farm byproducts or wastewater treatment plants.

RNG generation facilities are independently certified with associated production of RNG and assigned credits that can be bought and sold as offsets. In this way, the offsets, formally called RNGAs, operate similarly to Renewable Energy Credits in the wind and solar markets, where the environmental attributes of clean energy production generate credits that can support compliance with emissions reduction goals, while providing revenue sources to producers.

When added to existing clean natural gas supplies already serving households and businesses for home heating, water heating and to fuel appliances, RNG makes low-emission natural gas delivery even cleaner.

RNG is already used to reduce overall emissions of natural gas in the building and transportation sectors in 25 states, including California, Connecticut, Oregon, and Vermont. This is critical in a state like New Jersey that has significant integration of and reliance on natural gas, with 75% of homes utilizing natural gas service for home heating.