Northwest Natural on slow start toward climate goals using renewable natural gas, new report shows

Monica Samayoa Oregon Public Broadcasting

NW Natural on slow start toward climate goals using renewable natural gas, new report shows

A new report shows Oregon’s largest gas utility is not on track to meet the state’s climate goals despite doubling down on using renewable natural gas to offset its carbon emissions.

NW Natural, a gas utility that serves more than 2.5 million people across the Pacific Northwest, submitted an updated version of its Renewable Natural Gas Compliance report Friday. The report shows the utility’s renewable natural gas volume was just 0.15% of the company’s Oregon sales in 2022. That’s a far cry from the utility’s goal of 3% in 2022, according to their Integrated Resource Plan. Friday’s report also reveals that the utility’s use of renewable natural gas declined in 2022, down from 0.21% in Oregon sales in 2021.

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