PUEBLO, Colo.  ̶  Nov. 5, 2020  ̶  Black Hills Energy today announced corporate-wide clean energy goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity for its electric and natural gas utility operations across its 8-state service territory.

For its electric operations in Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming, the company has established a goal to reduce GHG emissions intensity by 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2040, based on 2005 baseline levels. The company’s electric operations have reduced total GHG emissions by 25% since 2005.

In Colorado, with its all-renewable and natural gas generation fleet – the cleanest in the state – Black Hills Energy has achieved an approximate 50% reduction in GHG emissions since 2005. With Renewable Advantage, the company’s planned 200-megawatt (MW), utility-scale solar project to be built in Pueblo County, Black Hills Energy is on pace to achieve a 70% reduction in GHG emissions by the end of 2023, ahead of state GHG roadmap targets and well positioned to achieve the state’s requirement of 80% reduction by 2030.

“Our Renewable Advantage plan is a demonstration of doing what’s right for our customers and the climate,”

“Our Renewable Advantage plan is a demonstration of doing what’s right for our customers and the climate,” said Vance Crocker, Black Hills Energy’s vice president of operations. “By nearly doubling the amount of renewable energy on our system, we’re projected to save our customers $66 million in energy costs over 15 years while generating far-reaching environmental and economic benefits for our region.”  

“By building on our experience in Southern Colorado, Black Hills Energy has set ambitious, yet achievable GHG emissions reduction targets for our enterprise operations using technology available today,”

“By building on our experience in Southern Colorado, Black Hills Energy has set ambitious, yet achievable GHG emissions reduction targets for our enterprise operations using technology available today,” said Vance Crocker, Black Hills Energy’s vice president of operations. “Our clean energy goals are based on methodical, proven solutions to reduce our emissions while ensuring reliability and affordability for our customers and, as new technologies become available, we hope to build on these goals and find deeper carbon emission reductions.” 

For its natural gas utility operations, the company has committed to achieving a 50% total reduction in GHG emissions intensity by 2035 based on 2005 baseline levels for its natural gas distribution system. Black Hills Energy has cut GHG emissions intensity from its natural gas utilities by more than 33% since 2005.

“Our goal of 50% emissions intensity reduction will be realized by executing upon our distribution integrity management plans, which calls for programmatic upgrades of our natural gas system to ensure safety and integrity,”

“Our goal of 50% emissions intensity reduction will be realized by executing upon our distribution integrity management plans, which calls for programmatic upgrades of our natural gas system to ensure safety and integrity,” said Crocker. “Natural gas is dependable, economical, clean, abundant and an incredible resource for our customers. It’s also a source that must be treated with the utmost focus on safety and maintenance to ensure the safe transport and delivery to customers. Investing in infrastructure safety and the environment are a priority for Black Hills Energy and the company is committed to completing replacement of all remaining unprotected pipe on its system before 2035.”

Black Hills Energy operates a modern gas system across six states, including Colorado, with no cast iron pipe since 2014 and nearly 99% of infrastructure comprised of materials with the lowest emissions factors.

Investing in infrastructure safety and the environment are a priority for Black Hills Energy and the company is committed to completing replacement of all remaining unprotected pipe on its system before 2035.

Additional information about the company’s GHG emissions reduction goals and environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies and initiatives are available in Black Hills Energy’s newly published corporate responsibility report at blackhillsenergy.com/sustainability.