South Jersey Industries

The energy sector is undergoing a significant transformation as the demand for clean and sustainable energy increases. The continued growth of renewable energy, coupled with bold policy proposals, is changing the landscape for energy providers.

One company who is leading the way in clean energy efforts is South Jersey Industries (SJI). SJI is an energy services holding company, and through its natural gas utilities, South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas, provides safe, reliable, affordable energy to more than 725,000 customers across the state of New Jersey. In addition, SJI invests, builds, owns and operates decarbonization and traditional renewable projects and offers energy consulting through its non-utility subsidiaries.

In 2021, SJI announced an aggressive decarbonization plan aimed at achieving 100 percent carbon-neutral operations by 2040. The company is also dedicating at least 25 percent of its annual capital expenditures to sustainability projects, including infrastructure and energy efficiency enhancements as well as investing in renewable and clean energy development.

To meet the growing demand for clean energy, SJI is branching out its portfolio through its non-utility subsidiary SJI Renewable Energy Ventures (SJI REV). SJI REV is dedicated to developing, constructing, and owning/operating renewable energy projects, promoting decarbonization, and creating value for customers, communities, and shareholders.

In 2021, SJI acquired a minority stake in REV LNG, LLC, a compressed natural gas (CNG), liquified natural gas (LNG) and renewable natural gas (RNG) development and logistics expert. The companies are working together on building out SJI’s pipeline portfolio of anaerobic digester projects which capture and refine methane from cow manure into pipeline-quality RNG. In just two years, SJI REV has nearly two dozen farms in some stage of development with several expected to be complete by the end of 2023. The venture holds RNG development rights at a number of large dairy farms throughout the United States, making SJI REV well positioned to be a national leader in low Carbon Intensity (CI) RNG development.

“Our investment strategy reflects RNG’s vital role in decarbonizing the energy and transportation industries. We started our flagship projects at dairy farms but we see tremendous opportunity across multiple feedstocks for converting waste to energy and we’re just getting started,” says Christopher Pino, VP of Strategy and Business Development, SJI.

SJI REV is also planning to invest in RNG production from other waste sources, including food waste, wastewater treatment and landfill gas. These projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions, stimulate local economies and create cleaner communities. RNG produced from these projects can be injected into local gas utility systems or used as transportation fuel in the form of CNG.

As part of its expansion, SJI REV recently announced a joint venture with Opal Fuels to pursue several landfill RNG projects, including an initial project at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority solid waste landfill in NJ.

It is also actively investing in solar, fuel cells and exploring green hydrogen initiatives as it partners with top industry groups, such as the Renewable Natural Gas Coalition and the American Biogas Council, to strengthen renewable energy initiatives and effectively navigate regulatory challenges.

By reducing operational emissions and heavily investing in clean energy opportunities, SJI is proud to support America’s clean energy goals.