BUSINESS

PSNC Energy recognized as 'Environmental Champion'

Bill Poteat bpoteat@gastongazette.com

Gastonia-based PSNC Energy has been designated a 2018 "Environmental Champion" among the nation's largest energy providers.

Market Strategies International, a top market research firm, surveyed more than 60,000 customers from 131 residential gas and electric utilities. Of those, 43 received the "Environmental Champion," designation, according to a press release from PSNC's public affairs office.

The honored utilities have "shown customers their dedication to the environment by promoting clean energy, protecting the environment, enabling consumption management, supporting environmental causes, and encouraging ecofriendly vehicle fleets and buildings," the release stated.

"Our customers care that we support a clean energy future for our state," said George Ratchford, PSNC vice president of operations. "We embrace our responsibility to conduct business in a way that protects the environment, such as our robust natural gas transportation fueling program."

PSNC Energy is franchised to serve a 28-county area in North Carolina. The utility distributes natural gas to more than 565,000 customers in 96 cities including Gastonia, Forest City, Concord, Statesville, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Asheville, and Hendersonville.

PSNC Energy promotes natural gas as a clean, quiet, economical, and abundant vehicle fuel and owns and operates 10 natural gas fueling stations in North Carolina serving refuse, transit, tractor-trailer, and bus fleets. In addition, 35 percent of PSNC's light-duty vehicle fleet runs on natural gas.

Natural gas produces 20 to 30 percent less fuel emissions than do diesel and gasoline.

On the conservation education front, PSNC works with the National Theatre for  Children to present "The Energy Time Trek" in more than 50 elementary schools each autumn. The educational program focuses on natural gas safety and conservation and has been seen by more than 173,000 students since 2009.

PSNC Energy supports these organizations and projects that benefit the environment including the Festival for the Eno, Riverlink Inc., Wild for Life and Mountain Projects.

Bill Poteat may be reached at 704-869-1855.