Nicor Gas celebrates its first renewable natural gas interconnection

Project Overview - Nicor Gas celebrated the opening of its first renewable natural gas (RNG) interconnection with Air Liquide's largest RNG facility in the world, marking a milestone in Illinois's clean energy future [1] - The interconnection was established under Nicor Gas' Renewable Gas Interconnection Pilot Program approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2021 [3] - Air Liquide's state-of-the-art plant in Rockford, Illinois, uses biogas from the adjacent Winnebago Landfill to create RNG, projected to produce approximately 1.3 million MMBtu per year, equivalent to replacing natural gas in 12,000 homes annually [4] Environmental Impact - RNG is a low-carbon intensity fuel produced from biogas derived from organic waste sources, with the potential to have a negative carbon intensity on a lifecycle basis depending on the feedstock [5] - Nicor Gas will receive and retire 13,900 MMBtu annually of environmental attributes associated with this project, contributing directly to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its operations [6] Company Background - Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, serving more than 2.3 million customers in northern Illinois [8] - Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.4 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and more than 600,000 retail customers through its marketing companies [9]