Sustainability Model & Scorecard
In 2011, we set preliminary sustainability goals that correspond to our four focus areas, which are listed below. These focus areas serve as the foundation of our sustainability strategy and the basis for further development and refinement going forward. We will measure performance against them and continue reporting our progress in future editions of this report.
Sustainability Focus Areas & Scorecard:
Invest in the Technologies of Tomorrow
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Evaluate latest technology research in emerging alternative energy sources; assess commercial viability of renewable energy technologies and conservation/efficiency tools to identify business partnership opportunities | |
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Community Solar Power Program - Pending regulatory approval |
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Plug-In Electric Vehicles - Pilot program approved July 2011 - Richmond EV Initiative (REVi), $429,000 grant awarded to 8-member team in Sept. 2011; partnership to develop strategic plan in 2012 |
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Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) - Formed stand-alone CVR business – EDGESM – launched in Jan. 2012 |
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Offshore Wind Power - Awarded $500,000 DOE grant in 2011 to partner in finding ways to lower costs through technological innovation - Complete onshore and offshore transmission studies to support potential offshore wind projects – to be released in 2012 |
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Microgrid Research Project - Partnering with VCU School of Engineering to research and develop micro-grid test site for energy efficiency technologies – announced March 2012 |
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Dominion GreenTech Incubator - Public/private partnership supports start-up companies in the clean energy sector – 5 occupants in 2012 |
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| GOAL: | Meet Virginia Renewable Portfolio Standard Goal : 15% by 2025 | |
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4% of 2007 sales in VA derived from renewable energy sources between 2010-2015 - Met 2010 and 2011 targets |
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| GOAL: | Meet North Carolina Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard Goal: 12.5% by 2021 | |
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.02% of 2007 sales in NC derived from solar power in 2010 - Met 2010 target |
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Reduce Our Environmental Footprint
| GOAL: | Transition commercial light-duty vehicle fleet to a green fleet (electric, hybrid and other alternative-fuel vehicles) | |
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Replace 100% of commercial sedans and SUVs as appropriate with alternative-fuel vehicles - Underway in 2012 |
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| GOAL: | Manage our energy footprint at company facilities | |
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Pursue green LEED certification for new administrative/ware-house complex at Warren County, Virginia site - Evaluation underway in 2012 |
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Track and report annual energy use - Completed data collection of company electricity use from 2008-2011 |
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Conduct energy audit of corporate headquarters; make recommendations to management and Executive Sustainability Council - Underway in 2012 |
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| GOAL: | Manage our waste footprint at company facilities | |
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Continue participation in EPA's WasteWise partnership - 2011 data submitted to EPA in April 2012 |
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Seek beneficial uses for CCBs that are technically feasible and economically viable - Reused 1 million tons of CCBs, or 48% of total produced in 2011 |
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Track methane emissions from gas transmission and storage business; adopt best practices to reduce methane emissions | |
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Gas transmission unit partnering with EPA and industry in Natural Gas Star program - Data collection underway in 2012 |
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| GOAL: | Utilize best practices to minimize SF6 greenhouse gas leakage | |
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Estimate annual SF6 emissions from electric operations and implement economical solutions to reduce leakage - Underway in 2012 |
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Provide Green Opportunities for Customers & Communities
| GOAL: | Provide customers with opportunities to support green power and its development | |
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Grow and refine Dominion Green Power Program offerings 2011 Results: - Added 4,300 customers – 35% increase - Introduced solar Renewable Energy Credits in Virginia - Launched mobile phone enrollment option |
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| GOAL: | Provide customers with energy management & conservation programs | |
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Enhance customer opportunities for energy conservation - In 2011, successfully launched 5 new energy conservation programs in North Carolina |
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| - Introducing package of 4 new residential & 3 commercial conservation programs in Virginia | ||
| GOAL: | Reduce Virginia retail customers' energy use by 10% by 2022 from 2006 levels | |
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- Implement customer conservation/energy efficiency initiatives | |
| - Achieved net energy savings of 176,544 mWh from May 2010 through December 2011 | ||
| GOAL: | Support NGO projects that protect natural resources | |
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- "Putting Our Energy to Work for the Environment" employee volunteer project - In 2011, completed 11 projects in 8 states with employee volunteers and $30,000 donation from the Dominion Foundation; |
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| GOAL: | Partner with schools to improve energy and environmental education | |
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- Educational Grants Partnership Program - Donated $354,000 to 70 schools in 2011 |
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| GOAL: | Partner with NGOs to conduct energy efficiency improvements in communities where we do business | |
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- Align charitable grants with volunteer assistance to implement improvements - Employee volunteers installed energy conservation/weatherization tools for elderly homeowners and others in need - Provided Foundation grants to Habitat for Humanity and others to support affordable housing initiatives |
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Engage with Employees and Other Stakeholders on Sustainability Issues
| GOAL: | Develop internal sustainability governance framework | |
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Integrate sustainability into corporate governance and workforce - Created position of Sustainability Director, Executive Sustainability Council, and Employee Sustainability Team - Created sustainability mailbox for stakeholder input |
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| GOAL: | Enhance company data disclosure and transparency | |
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Utilize CSR, other online/print company reports and social media - In 2011, participated for first time in Carbon Disclosure Project's "Water Disclosure" reporting process; added water metrics to performance reporting - Participated in 4th CDP reporting process - Expanded use of social media to engage with customers on a variety of issues |
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| GOAL: | Engage employees in sustainability efforts | |
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Launched a "Sustainability Speaker Series" in 2011 and continued in 2012 - Hosted 3 presentations by external sustainability experts in fall 2011 and spring 2012 |
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| GOAL: | Engage with external stakeholders to advance sustainability agenda and partnerships | |
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Seek stakeholder outreach and partnership opportunities - In 2011, joined Electric Power Research Institute's Sustainability Interest Group; U.S. EPA's Natural Gas Star program; Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Line USA program; participated in TVA's Utility Benchmarking Forum |
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- Held meetings with investor and environmental groups about company's sustainability program and long-range resource planning process - Dominion’s Sustainability Director served on Advisory Committee for development of city of Richmond's Sustainability Plan |
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Sustainability Model
