Retail Supplier Launches Patented Renewable Natural Gas Offer

The Energy Co-op says it has, "developed and patented," Renewable Natural Gas Credits, and has launched the offering of a natural gas supply plan offset with the Renewable Natural Gas Credits in Pennsylvania

Specifically, the Renewable Natural Gas Credits offset the customer's usage with credits, or attributes, from landfill gas, which The Energy Co-op said is, "naturally produced," through the anaerobic decomposition of landfill waste.

Similar to RECs for electricity, customers will continue to be supplied with system natural gas, but The Energy Co-op will offset such usage with the purchase of the environmental attributes of landfill gas.

While the REC-style approach may be unique, other natural gas suppliers have previously procured landfill-sourced physical natural gas supply and have marketed it as a clean or "recycled" alternative (notably in the Georgia market)

The Energy Co-op is currently offering the Renewable Natural Gas plan in the PECO service area, with a monthly variable rate currently priced at $0.4649/CCF, plus a monthly customer charge of $1.70

The Energy Co-op said that it plans to expand the product to Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) sometime in 2016.