AVANGRID, Inc. today released its 2019 Sustainability Report as it pledged to intensify its investments in a smarter, cleaner energy future throughout the pandemic crisis and beyond.
The 2019 Sustainability Report, titled “Working Together for a Clean Energy Future,” tracks AVANGRID’s sustainability performance across economic, environmental, social and governance perspectives.
While COVID-19 has upended lives and created business uncertainty, CEO James P. Torgerson said AVANGRID remains committed to its purpose of working together to deliver a more accessible clean energy model that promotes healthier, more sustainable communities every day.
“I see reason for optimism,” Torgerson said. “Although our world is changing, we remain committed to our vision of building a cleaner, smarter energy future. From Fortune 500 companies pledging to go carbon-neutral to families seeking to take control over their energy use, our customers understand what’s at stake — and they’re not waiting for policy makers to set the rules and boundaries. They expect us to lead the way.”
Among the 2019 achievements highlighted in the report:
Avangrid Renewables, the third largest U.S. wind operator, commissioned 831 megawatts (MW) of new wind projects and prepared for the construction of 700 MW of onshore wind and 366 MW of wind repowering projects in 2020.
The 17,479 gigawatt-hours of electricity produced by Avangrid Renewables’ wind and solar facilities allowed customers to avoid 12.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions — roughly equivalent to emissions avoided by removing 2.6 million cars from the road for a year*.
The company achieved emissions intensity in 2019 of 73 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced six times lower than the 2019 U.S. utility average. AVANGRID has a goal to reduce CO2 emissions intensity from its electric generation 25% by the end of 2020, compared with a 2015 baseline, and to be carbon neutral by the end of 2035.
AVANGRID consolidated its leadership in the emerging offshore wind industry. Vineyard Wind’s permitting process continued to move forward and Park City Wind, an 804-MW project also in joint venture with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, was selected in Connecticut’s first offshore RFP.
The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission project, which will deliver 1,200 MW of hydropower from Québec to the New England power grid, continues to move forward, achieving important regulatory approvals. The proposed project, undertaken in partnership with Hydro-Québec, is expected to reduce regional CO2 emissions by 3.0-3.6 million metric tons – the equivalent of taking at least 700,000 cars off the road.
In keeping with its commitment to sustainability, AVANGRID has also pledged to support the communities, customers and businesses on which its companies rely through the COVID-19 crisis.
AVANGRID and the Avangrid Foundation have pledged more than $2 million toward coronavirus relief and recovery efforts. These dollars are being directed to partners nationwide that provide emergency response and community support. During the pandemic, AVANGRID’s electric and gas utilities have suspended shut-offs for nonpayment and late payment penalties as they work with regulators and lawmakers to find ways to mitigate the pandemic’s impact.
