Big Gas’s Latest Ploy: “Renewable Natural Gas”
“Renewable natural gas” is not a large-scale climate solution. It’s a shameless attempt by the fossil fuel industry to convince New Englanders to pay for more polluting pipelines.

“Renewable natural gas” is not a large-scale climate solution. It’s a shameless attempt by the fossil fuel industry to convince New Englanders to pay for more polluting pipelines.
Vermont’s legislature hit the ground running this year. Lawmakers are taking up critical bills to tackle climate change – bills that put the state on a path to slash polluting emissions while making sure rural communities and hardworking Vermonters prosper.
Although world leaders met in Madrid this month to discuss how to lower global emissions, the gap in ambition between the negotiation rooms and the side events was stark. It highlighted how important it is to take action at the local level—for instance, passing state-level climate laws and advocating for clean energy in New England.
Fracked gas was once considered part of a lower-carbon future. But this volatile, dangerous, and polluting fossil fuel now needs to be shown the door. Thankfully, as New England’s growing investment in cleaner energy ramps up, this transition is becoming easier. But standing in its way are the last gasps of the dirty fossil fuel industry. And they are not going quietly.
Siting solar energy projects can be a challenge in a small, dense state like Rhode Island; state guidelines can help solve problems before they start.