Start your Green PathSM journey
Green PathSM is a voluntary program that allows you to designate 50 or 100 percent of your monthly natural gas usage to be supplemented by a combination of renewable natural gas sources and carbon offsets to allow you to effectively offset the carbon emissions of some or all of your natural gas usage. If you choose to enroll, an additional cost will be included on top of your current natural gas rate per therm.
Learn about how the environmental attributes acquired under the Green PathSM program are offsetting customers’ greenhouse gas emissions.
Enroll in Green Path
Additional costs are as follows:
| Natural Gas Used | Per Therm Monthly |
|---|---|
| 50% | $0.1689 |
| 100% | $0.2814 |
Green Path Cost Calculator 2
Steps to sign up for Green PathSM
- Click Enroll in Green Path button above.
- Log into your account. If you don't have an account, it is easy to set up.
- Click on Green Path on the left-side navigation.
- Click on the Enroll button.
- Confirm your service account address and account number.
- Select the usage level you want to participate in: 50% or 100%
- Check the box to agree to the terms and conditions.
- Click Enroll and you are signed up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the verified carbon offsets and RNG environmental attributes for Green Path service come from?
Please see below for details on the retired verified carbon offsets and RNG environmental attributes by month:
Month | Number of VCOs Retired & Location | Number of Renewable Thermal Certificates Retired & Location |
October 2023 | 3, India | 3, New York |
November 2023 | 9, India | 9, New York |
December 2023 | 25, India | 25, New York |
January 2024 | 44, India | 43, New York |
February 2024 | 37, India | 37, New York |
March 2024 | 26, India | 26, New York |
April 2024 | 19, India | 19, New York |
May 2024 | 8, India | 8, New York |
June 2024 | 6, India | 6, New York |
July 2024 | 5, India | 5, New York |
August 2024 | 5, India | 5, New York |
September 2024 | 5, India | 5, New York |
*Verified Carbon Offsets: Represent the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent and has received certification by one of the specified host registries to meet five criteria: real, additional, verifiable, enforceable, and permanent.
Renewable Thermal Certificates: Represent the equivalent of the separated, or unbundled, Environmental Attributes associated with one dekatherm of RNG. RTCs are listed and retired on the Midwest Renewable Energy Transaction System (M-RETS).
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What is Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and how is it different than conventional natural gas? How does RNG help me reduce my carbon footprint?
RNG comes from organic sources which once absorbed carbon dioxide. RNG is produced from organic waste that would otherwise decay and emit methane emissions into the atmosphere. Learn more about the benefits of RNG and methane reductions on the US EPA's website and in the document, An Overview of Renewable Natural Gas from Biogas.
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How long do I have to be enrolled?
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Why is Columbia Gas of Virginia interested in offering the Green Path Program? Is Columbia Gas of Virginia looking at options beyond RNG (Renewable Natural Gas) to reduce emissions?
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How does RNG help farmers?
The production of RNG not only helps farmers with efficiently managing naturally occurring waste from the farms (e.g., animal manure), but it also creates a new source of revenue from the sale of the RNG. While RNG is not exclusively useful to farmers, the benefits of renewable natural gas are uniquely geared to benefit their economic futures, our nation’s domestic food sources and farming communities.
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Do customers or Columbia Gas of Virginia get tax credits from Green Path? Does Columbia Gas of Virginia make money from the Green Path program?
Neither the customer nor Columbia Gas of Virginia will receive tax credits from the Green PathSM program. The costs of the RNG (Renewable Natural Gas) Environmental Attributes and carbon offsets are directly charged to the enrolled customers with no profit to Columbia Gas of Virginia.
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Why does RNG cost more than conventional natural gas? Is the cost variable?
RNG currently costs more than conventional natural gas because of the cost to build new infrastructure to capture and produce it and the cost for energy credits for producers. Although RNG currently costs more than conventional natural gas, the cost is lower than many other options that are available to reduce emissions. Columbia Gas of Virginia will update the Green Path Rider rate as needed. Enrolled customers will be notified of new rates before the new rate takes effect.
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What are carbon offsets? How are carbon offsets verified?
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What are RNG Environmental Attributes?
RNG Environmental Attributes are a way to track the environmental qualities of RNG to ensure that who is paying for the RNG receives the environmental benefits. Using the RNG Environmental Attributes makes sure that Columbia Gas of Virginia is providing RNG that has been tracked and the environmental benefits are delivered to our customers.
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How can I estimate the additional cost of enrolling in Green Path? Where will the cost be shown on my bill?
The additional cost will be based on the rate that corresponds with the offset option you use multiplied by your monthly usage. The Green Path rider will be shown as a separate line item on your bill.
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