WALTHAM, Mass., July 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - National Grid has taken an active role in the Department of Energy's Methane Roundtables. Today, National Grid and other leading natural gas utility companies participated in the capstone Methane Roundtable meeting--hosted by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and John Podesta, Counselor to the President--where participants reviewed what has been learned through the roundtables to date, and began to determine what actions will be taken going forward, as part of the strategy to reduce methane emissions under the Administration's Climate Action Plan.
"National Grid commends the Department of Energy for forming these invaluable roundtables," said Tom King, president of National Grid, U.S. "National Grid has taken a leadership role on a national level to reduce methane emissions and we are committed to working with the Administration, federal and state regulators and stakeholders towards achieving our common goal of reduced methane emissions while bringing the nation's energy network into the 21st century."
As the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeast United States--safely operating and maintaining 35,000 miles of natural gas main pipeline across Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island--National Grid is collaborating with its state regulators to reduce natural gas leaks by accelerating main replacements, and is continually investing in developing and utilizing the best technology available to quantify and reduce methane emissions. The company is investing more than $1 billion into natural gas infrastructure this year and plans to invest $6 billion over the next five years, to both grow the distribution network to meet customer demands and reduce methane emissions through main pipeline replacement and technology deployment.
National Grid is also a member of the Natural Gas Downstream Initiative, a group of natural gas distribution utilities that have been collaborating to develop both technical and regulatory approaches to reducing methane emissions. The group was highlighted in the White House's March 2014 Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions and currently consists of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Public Service Electric and Gas Company and Excel Energy.
About National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and develop an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it 'joins everything up'.
In the northeast U.S., we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.
National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
For more information please visit our website: http://www.nationalgridus.com.
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