During MACo’s Summer Conference, Larry DePompei, WGL Energy’s Senior Director, Commercial and Green Initiatives, hosted a panel discussion with the theme The Road to Sustainability is Paved with Innovative Fuels and Carbon Offsets. This was a chance for our partners on the front line – Sterling Planet, Gordian Energy Systems, Xpansiv – to showcase their thought leadership positions exploring sustainable power and what’s trending for businesses interested in a lower carbon footprint.  

Open to all show attendees, the crowd included various interested parties, consultants, local elected officials, as well as some Delmarva media.  The exchange with audience members ranged from reaction to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the difference between Certified Natural Gas, Natural Gas, and Renewable Natural Gas, to the best diverse energy mix, and more!  

Throughout the interactive discussion, Larry opened up the floor to panelists to weigh in on several topics.  For example, when asked “What are you seeing as the top three priorities when a customer or a partner want to establish a road map to meet sustainability goals, combat climate change?” our experts replied with advice such as measuring your carbon footprint before hatching a gameplan, being open about implementing a mix of energy sources that includes traditional and renewable, and empowering companies to not only lower its customers’ emissions but also its own emissions targets. 

They also fielded areas such as the number of companies that have pledged net-zero emissions by 2040 and the impact on their roles as sustainability consultants and how they are seeking assistance achieving these goals.  Other feedback included the “no brainers” that most companies can do near term to meet these emissions goals, and how products and services made a difference and attracted businesses or organizations to sign up to use them.

We have since received compliments about the content and line-up, and we applaud our panelists for a job well done in an informative session!  Many follow up discussions took place afterward and the team plans to do more webinars or similar roundtable format discussions about sustainability in the future!  

Click below for a video that highlights statements from the following panelists:

• Robert Maddox, Chief Sustainability Officer, Sterling Planet 
• Larry DePompei (moderator), Senior Director of Commercial and Green Initiatives, WGL Energy
• Fletcher Sturm, Vice President of Market Development, Xpansiv
• Bill Cole, President, Gordian Energy Systems