Building a more sustainable energy future will take more than one solution. Energy efficiency, modern infrastructure, renewable natural gas, hydrogen, and renewable power all have a role to play. Natural gas still matters in that mix because it helps meet energy needs today while supporting lower-emissions progress across the system. AGA’s 2026 Playbook frames gas technologies, infrastructure, and related strategies as part of the path toward economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050.
GROEBNER has spent 50 years supporting the natural gas industry through change. That experience shapes how we see the transition. Progress happens through practical decisions, trusted partnerships, field-tested products, and a clear understanding of what utilities and contractors need on the ground. That relationship-first approach still matters, especially as the industry balances reliability, affordability, and sustainability.
Natural Gas and Emissions Progress
Natural gas has been part of the U.S. energy system for generations, but the more important story is how the industry continues to reduce emissions while modernizing the network. According to AGA’s 2026 Playbook, emissions from the natural gas distribution system have declined 70% since 1990. The same section says local distribution systems release as little as 0.1% of the natural gas they deliver, and that the miles of natural gas mains made with more modern materials have more than tripled since 1990.
Steve D’Amato, GROEBNER’s VP of Training and Development, has long pointed to that progress as one reason natural gas remains important in the broader energy transition.
“One of the key factors in progress has been the substantial reduction of emissions by 70% since 1990. Natural gas is key to the transition because you can’t automatically be all electric. Natural gas acts as an essential bridge, offering a cleaner-burning option compared to other fossil fuels.”
That bigger shift has also shown up in electricity generation. AGA reports that emissions from the power sector have declined 61% due to increased use of natural gas for electricity generation. The playbook also notes that natural gas efficiency, together with the growth of renewable energy, has helped drive energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to 40-year lows.
Efficiency is Part of the Sustainability Story
Fuel choice is only part of the conversation. Energy efficiency matters too, especially when customers are looking for practical ways to lower use and reduce emissions without sacrificing comfort or reliability.
AGA reports that natural gas utilities invested about $1.42 billion in energy efficiency programs in 2023 and saved 371 million therms of energy that year. AGA’s sustainability section also states that utilities invest about $3.89 million per day in programs that help customers improve insulation, tighten building envelopes, and install more efficient equipment.
AGA’s 2026 sustainability section also says carbon dioxide emissions from homes using natural gas for space and water heating, cooking, and clothes drying are 22% lower than those attributable to an all-electric home. It adds that efficient gas equipment is expected to cut home greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40% by 2040.
Renewable Natural Gas Expands What's Possible
Renewable natural gas, or RNG, is one of the clearest examples of how existing infrastructure can support lower-emissions energy. AGA defines RNG as a pipeline-compatible gaseous fuel made from biogenic or other renewable sources with lower lifecycle carbon dioxide equivalent emissions than geological natural gas. It can be produced from sources including farms, landfills, wastewater facilities, and some renewable-electricity pathways. AGA also says RNG is fully compatible with the U.S. pipeline system and can help lower emissions in homes, businesses, and heavy industries such as manufacturing.
That compatibility matters. Utilities do not have to start from scratch to put lower-carbon options to work. Existing infrastructure can help move energy from where it is produced to where it is needed, and trusted industry partners help make that transition more practical.
Hydrogen Has Potential, Too
Hydrogen remains another area to watch. AGA’s innovation section says renewable electricity can be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. That hydrogen can then be blended into the pipeline or combined with carbon dioxide to create RNG. The same section says the United States has the world’s most extensive natural gas pipeline delivery network, and that research and testing are underway to expand how this infrastructure can help deliver clean hydrogen.
D’Amato has described that potential in practical terms: "You can make hydrogen from excess electricity generated by wind farms through electrolysis... and then store it in a pipeline, blending up to 20% of hydrogen with natural gas. Suddenly, your natural gas is cleaner, and for consumers, nothing changes."
Hydrogen also does not create carbon emissions when it is used for energy, and natural gas infrastructure can help connect hydrogen production and supply to demand centers and customers.
Progress Takes Partnership
No single technology will carry the full weight of the energy transition. Progress will come from many directions at once, including infrastructure modernization, energy efficiency, methane mitigation, renewable gases, innovation, and workforce development. Those are all part of the path AGA outlines in its 2026 sustainability materials.
GROEBNER’s role in that work is straightforward. We support the industry with product knowledge, compliant solutions, and strong manufacturer partnerships that help customers prepare for what is next. System components like meters, regulators, valves, and high-pressure plastic pipe continue to evolve as utilities look ahead to applications involving RNG, hydrogen, and ongoing system upgrades.
“Renewable natural gas and hydrogen are parts of the future; the question is just at what level? It depends on how fast technology develops. The more methane we can capture, the better,” D’Amato said.
A more sustainable energy future will require practical progress, not one-size-fits-all thinking. Natural gas has an important role to play in that work, and strong partnerships will continue to matter as the industry moves forward.