Leading Towards a Sustainable Energy Future
Sustainability at Summit means innovating our business to create lasting benefits for future generations.
As an energy provider and a public utility, we play a pivotal role in helping to build strong, economically, and environmentally sustainable communities. As Summit has grown, we’ve concentrated on weaving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices into our core business strategy. We work diligently to provide innovative solutions to help enhance our communities, improve our environmental performance, and create a safe and healthy system and workplace for our customers and team members.
We are encouraged by the strides we have made in building a strong culture and company grounded by our mission and commitment to ESG practices. We are resilient, agile, inclusive and deeply committed to our people, our communities and building a sustainable energy future.
Our footprint includes utilities in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texarkana, Texas. The breadth of our service area allows us to explore the potential that LDCs can provide to our energy future. Whether it’s collaborating with lawmakers in Maine and Colorado to meet emissions reduction goals, or safely and efficiently fueling farms in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, we are pushing the envelope in search of new and innovative solutions to enhance the communities we serve. This is why we have set a target to achieve net zero direct (Scope 1) emissions by 2035 and are working to develop pathways to decarbonize the gas we deliver to our customers through investments in renewable natural gas (RNG), green hydrogen and low-methane responsibly sourced gas. With innovation, and consistent collaboration with policymakers we can help reduce emissions while maintaining safe, reliable, and affordable energy access to families, business, and industry throughout the country.
Summit has committed to achieve net zero Scope 1 emissions by 2035.
“The future of our energy landscape has been one of the defining issues of our generation, and I am pleased to be able to lead a company that is striving towards a solution every day. Our mission to deliver clean, safe, affordable, and reliable energy solutions to our customers has been unwavering since our company was founded.”
-Kurt Adams, CEO of Summit Utilities, Inc.
Our ESG Commitments
Environmental
We integrate environmental stewardship into our daily operations through innovative and resource-efficient practices. Our commitment to reducing our environmental impact is underlined by transparent reporting and ongoing improvements in our sustainability strategies.
Social
Our dedication to sustainable development and community wellbeing is driven by our employees and customers. We support social advancement through strong safety initiatives, thoughtful philanthropic efforts, and an overall focus on generating a positive social impact for our teammates, customers, and communities.
Governance
We showcase progressive leadership by embedding ESG principles into our daily practices, supported by evolving policies and adaptive leadership. Our unwavering commitment to transparency guides our governance approach.
Our ESG Performance
Environmental
- Established our Scope 1 net zero emissions reduction goal.
- Awarded the 2021 Southern Gas Association ESG Award for our leadership in Methane Recapture Technology.
- Awarded a nearly $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop the nations first on-system biomethane hydrogen pilot.
- Developed a comprehensive GHG Emissions inventory.
Social
- Developed a team member ambassador training program.
- Since 2021, Summit has included women on interview panels 100% of the time for office-based jobs and 90% of the time for field-based jobs
- Added additional benefits that align more closely with an inclusive and diverse workforce.
- Implemented quarterly risk assessments.
- In 2022, the Summit team donated over 7,200 volunteer hours, more than doubling our 3,500-hour goal.
Governance
- Instituted a voluntary customer option for RNG for customers.
- Advanced RNG and Energy Choice policy in multiple states.
- Strengthened policies to include clear requirements regarding ESG related standards.
- Implemented quarterly risk assessments.
The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), assess and benchmarks ESG performance of assets within pension funds; GRESB is used as a benchmark for both real estate and infrastructure investments across the world. The Assessments are designed to compare participants to their peers and provides a roadmap of what actions can be taken to improve ESG performance. In 2023, GRESB awarded Summit 5 out of 5 stars for our ESG performance.
3rd of 14 Gas Distribution Network Utilities
33rd of 681 Infrastructure Assets
Energy Efficiency
At Summit, we are proud of our ongoing energy efficiency programs and are committed to reducing carbon emissions while providing affordable energy solutions to our customers. One of the ways we do that is by investing in energy efficiency. Each year, we invest more than $3.0 million in energy efficiency programs that directly benefit our customers. By reducing the energy usage of those we serve, we help our customers keep more money in their pockets, while reducing their carbon footprint.
Our energy efficiency programs help make homes more efficient by creating a thermal barrier to reduce energy usage and costs, while also increasing air circulation and creating healthier ventilation and superior air quality by preventing pollutants from coming into the home.
In 2022, we helped our customers conserve 5,419,947 therms of natural gas, a savings equivalent to taking 6,381 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles off the road for one year.*
*As defined by the EPA.
Interested in learning more about energy efficiency measures?
Innovation
Methane Recapture
Summit has completed seven successful pilots of methane recapture technology across our companies. We are excited to continue our work to reduce emissions on our system and limit our environmental impact through innovative technologies such as ZEVAC ® and GoVAC FLEXTM ®.
In 2021, Summit was honored with the Southern Gas Association’s ESG Award for piloting the ZEVAC ® technology.
Renewable Fuels
At Summit we believe that the existing natural gas infrastructure can play a key role in meeting state, federal, and global emissions reduction goals. That is why we have created a renewable development arm, Peaks Renewables, to help achieve our goals. In July of 2022, Peaks Renewables broke ground on a historic renewable natural gas dairy digester project in Clinton, Maine.
Pipeline Replacement Program
To reduce our methane emissions and enhance the efficiency of our system, we are systematically replacing and upgrading aging pipe through a multi-year capital investment. In 2022 alone, we retired 132 miles of leak-prone pipe in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Through this effort, we have been able and will continue to be able to further reduce our methane emissions and promote the ongoing safety and efficiency of our system.
A Holistic Approach
Summit’s strategy is to integrate sustainability across all facets of our business. Our goal is to make a positive impact in our communities, our company, and our stakeholders. As a company, Summit works to:
Encourage Energy
Efficiency
Reduce Greenhouse
Gas Emissions
Dedicate Ourselves to Safety
Encourage a Diverse,
Inclusive Work Culture
Work Towards a Future of
Clean Energy
At Summit, we are committed to supporting our communities through volunteer efforts, sponsorship, and donations. In 2023, Summit supported over $317,000 in donations and sponsorships to nearly 219 non-profit organizations.
Learn more about Summit’s dedication to giving back to the communities we serve.
Energy Choice
At Summit, we believe that we must help preserve all consumers’ right to choose the most affordable and reliable energy solution to fit their unique needs and budget, which is why we support legislation that preserves Energy Choice. Not only does Energy Choice legislation provide our communities with diverse energy solutions to fit their unique needs, but it also gives those same communities additional tools to help lower emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. By maximizing the use of the energy distribution infrastructure we provide, cities will reap the benefits of certified natural gas, carbon negative renewable natural gas, and future benefits from the growing innovations of power-to-hydrogen. This preserves customer choice while also allowing for a pathway for more affordable and reliable low-carbon energy solutions for our customers.
Want to learn more about about Summit ESG and sustainability measures?
Please reach out to: [email protected]
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