National Grid Talks Environmental Initiatives With Customers

From National Grid, Massachusetts:

By President Marcy Reed

I know most of our customers only see or think of us when they get their bills or the power goes out. But today, I hope you will view us through a different lens.

As we recognize the 46th anniversary of Earth Day this week, I’d like to share some examples of National Grid’s commitment to transform our networks. We’re no longer your grandfather’s electric company. Though we can’t accomplish any other goals without doing an excellent job at keeping the lights on – and, in our natural gas territory, the gas flowing – we owe you more than what maybe you’ve received from us in the past.

We owe our planet more.

We’re in the 21st century, but we’re operating what really is a 20th century infrastructure. At National Grid, we’re working to close this gap through projects aligned with what we call Connect21: our strategy to support our 21st century economy with cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy solutions.

So, it sounds good, but how does that translate into action?

Let’s look at transportation.

This sector is second only to power generation in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions in the Northeast. While we’ve steadily reduced power generation emissions since 1990, we as a society have failed to make the same progress with tailpipe emissions.

We’re working to help change that. Our fleet includes more than 250 natural gas vehicles and about 75 electric vehicles (plug-in hybrids and all-electric). We operate 15 public-access compressed natural gas fueling stations and about 160 electric vehicle charging stations across our three states: Massachusetts, Rhode Island in New York. Clean vehicle technologies are important to help advance smarter, cleaner transportation options, in tandem with increasing amounts of renewable electricity on the grid.

That brings me to another Connect21 initiative: solar energy. The 20 megawatts of solar panels we’ve invested in across the state are providing information to help us determine if we can retire and remove infrastructure in certain locations. National Grid has connected more than 22,000 solar projects, large and small, in Massachusetts. And, while we remain concerned about the costs of these programs borne by our non-solar customers, we’re dedicated to developing a sustainable solution that provides the necessary incentives to continue growth.

Though my enthusiasm for this exciting time in our evolving industry could keep me writing about new energy solutions for pages, I’ll leave you with a glimpse of one more plan we’re committed to: Grid Modernization. Last summer, we joined other utilities in submitting proposals for the Department of Public Utilities’ consideration. In short, it’s our plan for upgrading our infrastructure, incorporating smarter technology into our system, reducing the strain on the electrical grid and giving our customers more choices and control. The DPU is beginning its formal review of the filings this month.

Bringing our networks up to speed is a solid plan for our customers and our environment.

So, as we celebrate Earth Day, please know that National Grid isn’t just about keeping the lights on: we’re also taking serious action to deliver a brighter, cleaner, more resilient future for this world we share.