Black Hills Energy highlights progress toward a cleaner energy future in newly released sustainability report

Black Hills Energy released its 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report showcasing the company’s commitment to providing a cleaner energy future that build upon the responsibility to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective energy for customers.

“For over 140 years, we’ve had the privilege of serving rural towns and growing cities across our service territory. We’ve championed these communities and evolved our organization by never losing sight of our responsibility to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective energy.” said Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Energy. “Our winning aspiration is to be the trusted energy partner across our growing footprint. Our commitment to our customers fuels this aspiration.”

We've reduced our electric utilities' greenhouse gas emissions intensity by one-third since 2005 and have a clear path to achieve our reduction goals of 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2040. We've more than doubled the generating capacity of our system over the last two decades, while reducing nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions by nearly 80% since 2005 through the installation of advanced pollution control equipment and plant retirements. Our gas distribution utilities emissions target is Net Zero by 2035.

Highlights from 2023 included: 

• Transitioning to a cleaner energy future through the addition of low or zero-carbon generation sources. Black Hills Energy’s Colorado Clean Energy Plan proposes to add 400 MW of renewable energy and battery storage, which will achieve an 89% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030.
• Through natural gas pipe replacement, reductions in transfer station leaks and data integrity improvements, Black Hills Energy has reduced reported natural gas distribution system GHG emissions by 27% since 2022. This puts them on track towards their net zero by 2035 target and a continued benefit to the safety and reliability of their natural gas system.
• The launch and expansion of Green Forward, a voluntary renewable natural gas attribute and carbon offset program, provides customers with a cost-effective path to offset up to 100% or more of the emissions associated with their own natural gas carbon footprint. Green Forward is now available to eligible residential and commercial customers in all six of the company’s natural gas utilities.
• Innovative partnerships are key to creating sustainable solutions. Black Hills Energy recently received a Wyoming Energy Authority grant along with Babcock & Wilcox to partner on a first-of-its kind pilot hydrogen plant, which will convert coal to clean hydrogen at Black Hills Energy’s Gillette, Wyoming, energy complex.

The sustainability report was developed using guidance from the Edison Electric Institute and the American Gas Association ESG quantitative disclosure and the Global Reporting Initiative. In addition to our corporate sustainability report, we also disclose through the ESG frameworks, which can be found at www.blackhillsenergy.com/sustainability.