Black Hills Energy Methane Challenge Partner Profile
Natural Gas STAR Partner (2008-2022) Methane Challenge Partner (2020-2024)
Black Hills Energy has committed to apply best management practices (BMPs) across its operations to mitigate methane emissions from the emission sources listed below.
- Mains - Cast Iron and Unprotected Steel (Distribution)
- Services - Cast Iron and Unprotected Steel (Distribution)
- Excavation Damages (Distribution)
Methane Challenge Documents: Black Hills Energy submitted the following document as part of its Methane Challenge partnership:
Distribution
Mains - Cast Iron and Unprotected Steel
| Year | Replacement Rate (%) | Target Rate and Year (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.75 | -1 |
| 2022 | 1.09 | 5 |
| Commitment Details | Company Selection |
|---|---|
| Segment: | Distribution |
| Target Year: | 2022* |
| Target Replacement Rate: | 5% |
| Current Replacement Rate: | 1.09% |
Graph shows: The blue bars show Black Hills Energy's annual cast iron and unprotected steel mains replacement rate. Black Hills Energy has implemented this commitment by replacing cast iron and unprotected steel mains with plastic and protected steel and retiring cast iron and unprotected steel mains without replacement. Black Hill's commitment went through 2026. However, because EPA ended the Methane Challenge Partnership and will no longer collect data for 2023 or future years, the green star is used to represent the target annual replacement rate (5%) on 2022, the final reporting year.
Distribution
Services - Cast Iron and Unprotected Steel
| Year | Replacement Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.54 |
| 2022 | 8.54 |
| Commitment Details | Company Selection |
|---|---|
| Segment: | Distribution |
| Target Year: | 2022* |
| Current Replacement Rate: | 8.54% |
Graph shows: The blue bars show Black Hills Energy's annual cast iron and unprotected steel services replacement rate. When committing to this source, partners commit to replace services when replacing the main; partners do not set a target replacement rate for services. Black Hills Energy has implemented this commitment by replacing unprotected steel services with plastic, protected steel, and copper.
Distribution
Excavation Damages
| Year | Reporting Rate (%) | Target Rate and Year (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98.15 | -1 |
| 2022 | 100 | 100 |
| Commitment Details | Company Selection |
|---|---|
| Segment: | Distribution |
| Target Year: | 2022* |
| Target Reporting Rate: | 100% |
| Current Reporting Rate: | 100% |
Graph shows: The blue bars show Black Hills Energy's annual progress towards reporting on all Excavation Damages data elements. Black Hill's commitment went through 2026. However, because EPA ended the Methane Challenge Partnership and will no longer collect data for 2023 or future years, the green star is used to represent the target annual rate (100%) on 2022, the final reporting year.
Methane Reductions
| Year | Methane Reductions (MTCO2eq) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1251.04 |
| 2022 | 1779.68 |
Since joining the Methane Challenge program, Black Hills Energy has achieved the following methane emissions reductions, which are also expressed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents and the value of the amount of natural gas saved:
- Methane emissions reductions: 108.24 metric tons
- Reductions in carbon dioxide equivalents: 3030.72 metric tons
- Natural gas savings: $39,463*
*Natural gas savings assumes a natural gas price of $7.00 per thousand cubic feet, based on the average of daily Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot Prices in 2022, rounded to the nearest dollar
Methane Challenge Program – BMP Dataset
The Methane Challenge dataset for the BMP Commitment Option can be downloaded below.
Please refer to the Methane Challenge BMP Data Dictionary for assistance in using the BMP data download spreadsheet.
Methane Challenge Accomplishments Calculation Methods
This document describes how EPA analyzes Partner-submitted data to calculate Methane Challenge program ‘accomplishments’; specifically, the partner commitment progress metrics shown on each Partner Profile webpage as well as Methane Challenge program-level methane reductions.
Methane Challenge Accomplishments Calculation Methods (pdf)
This document does not describe how Methane Challenge Partners calculate the data they report to EPA. Those calculation methods are detailed in the Methane Challenge Technical Documents.
Pursuant to 5 CFR § 2635.702(c)(2), names are displayed here as the result of recognition for achievement given under an agency program of recognition for accomplishment in support of the agency’s mission. Any reference to a specific company or commercial product or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, company, or otherwise does not constitute or imply the endorsement or recommendation of EPA.
About the Methane Challenge Program
The Methane Challenge Program provides a new mechanism through which U.S. oil and gas companies can make more specific and transparent commitments to reducing methane emissions. Partner companies choose between two commitment options to cost-effectively reduce methane emissions. For background information on the Methane Challenge program, please check out the Methane Challenge Program Fact Sheet (pdf) .
Best Management Practice (BMP) Commitment
The BMP Commitment is intended to spur near-term, widespread implementation of methane mitigation activities across the oil and natural gas value chain to address methane emissions from key emitting sources. By committing to address an emission source, the partner is committing to implement a BMP on all such sources in their operations. Progress towards a commitment is generally indicated by the percent of sources to which the partner has implemented a BMP as part of the Methane Challenge. Commitments for a few sources are instead based on achieving a target rate (of equipment replacement or methane emission reductions).
Learn more about the BMP Commitment in the
Methane Challenge Program Best Management Practice Commitment Framework (pdf)
.
ONE Future Emissions Intensity Commitment
The ONE Future Commitment is intended to drive action to achieve segment-specific intensity targets, established through the ONE Future Partnership, which will represent emissions per volume produced or volume of throughput and add up to a 1% or less “leakage rate” along the natural gas value chain by 2025.
Learn more about the ONE Future Emissions Intensity Commitment in the
Methane Challenge Program ONE Future Emissions Intensity Commitment Framework (pdf)
Learn more about the ONE Future Partnership