Since the 1950s, Cascade Natural Gas has been proudly heating Washington’s homes and businesses. While our communities have grown and evolved over time, the fundamentals of serving as a local gas distribution company have remained the same – providing energy that is reliable, affordable and safe.

We believe that environmental policy and energy choice are not mutually exclusive and recognize the importance of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Cascade is actively working to meet our obligations under state energy policies such as the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). We also recognize voters’ support for energy choice, as evidenced by the recent passage of Initiative 2066, which prevents state and local authorities from imposing regulations limiting the use of natural gas. 

While no single solution can easily meet energy demand while lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we have a better chance of success when we work collaboratively. This means partnering with our fellow community members on opportunities to test new pathways in support of more sustainable solutions.

Capturing methane

As part of our company’s efforts to explore emerging technologies and partnerships, Cascade has made a series of investments in renewable natural gas (RNG), which captures methane from sources such as wastewater treatment plants and landfills.

This spring, we celebrated a significant milestone as our first RNG projects came online. It’s anticipated that these dual projects, which source RNG from Richland’s Horn Rapids Landfill and Lamb Weston’s agricultural biogas recovery system and inject them into our pipeline, will produce more than 2.5 million therms of RNG annually – equivalent to the natural gas used by approximately 3,900 Washington homes each year. 

The benefits of these projects are clear. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States. By converting these waste gases into usable consumer gas, we’re benefiting customers instead of flaring the gas into the environment. Additionally, these new sources of gas reduce the amount of traditional natural gas used.  

Cascade has contracts in place to build similar facilities at two other locations in Washington and a contract to build an RNG production facility in Oregon. We estimate all contracted projects will produce about 10 million therms of renewable natural gas each year, enough to supply more than 15,600 homes annually.  

The Lamb Weston renewable natural gas project in Richland.

| Courtesy Cascade National Gas

Thermal energy networks

Another way that Cascade Natural Gas is looking to the future is by pursuing emerging opportunities made possible by a state law that promotes thermal energy networks (TENs). The law enables utilities like Cascade Natural Gas to receive regulatory consideration for networked thermal energy projects and makes gas utilities eligible for grant funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce. 

TENs technology has the potential to supplement the state’s existing energy supply while meeting the growing needs of gas customers in new and innovative ways. One of the most common TENs technologies is the ground source heat pump, which takes advantage of the steady year-round ground temperature to heat or cool buildings. These ground source heat pumps operate much like air-source heat pumps but are known for their potentially superior year-round energy efficiency benefits. 

The “networked” part of thermal energy networks refers to the economies of scale and reduced costs when multiple buildings (a campus, neighborhood or shopping center) are served by an interconnected project. That’s because the costs of trenching and piping can be prohibitive if serving only a single site. Creating a TENs network has the potential to allow costs to be more comparable to traditional technologies and allows the network to serve customers with a reliable heating and cooling source while placing less burden on the grid.

While much will depend upon regulatory approval and available funding, Cascade sees TENs as a potential win-win solution to supporting the evolving energy priorities of our state. Cascade continues to explore the overall potential of TENs as a regular part of the company’s offerings going forward.

Renewable Natural Gas

| Courtesy Cascade National Gas

Seeking partners

Cascade is actively seeking partners in our communities, including those in the Tri-Cities, to help us identify and implement viable TENs projects and leverage available pilot funding. Potential projects can be shared with [email protected]. In the meantime, Cascade is actively hiring for a TENs manager to lead our efforts in identifying and pursuing viable TENs opportunities in the communities we serve. We look forward to partnering with our communities on this exciting new effort.

Whether it’s establishing thermal energy networks, capturing methane for biogas or exploring other emerging technologies, Cascade Natural Gas is committed to adapting to the needs of our communities, while providing safe, reliable and affordable gas to our customers across Washington and Oregon. 

Alyn Spector is Cascade Natural Gas’ manager of external affairs.