Natural Gas: Bridge or Anchor?

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020


This week's NERC guest blog is courtesy of As You Sow, a leading shareowner advocacy organization and a proponent of sustainable investing. The original post can be found here.

By Lila Holzman and Daniel Stewart


“We have been talking about, for the last few years, gas as the bridge… There is an inevitability about bridges, which is that sooner or later you get to the end of the bridge."⁠ — Adnan Amin, International Renewable Energy Agency.


The window of opportunity to prevent catastrophic climate change is narrowing. The world is already experiencing harmful impacts surpassing earlier projections, and such harms will only increase as “business as usual” emissions continue. The scale of decarbonization must ramp up quickly to prevent the climate crisis from destroying value across the global economy and putting investor portfolios, and life as we know it, at extreme risk. 


Recognizing the critical role the energy sector plays in mitigating climate risks, investors have productively engaged with utilities for years, moving them to better address the risks associated with their operations. First, shareholders filed resolutions raising concerns about the risk of stranded coal plant assets. Such concerns proved more than justified. We are now witnessing a wave of early coal plant retirements — a trend with no sign of slowing or reversing. 


Shareholders next sought broad analysis of low-carbon scenarios and began to push utilities to set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. Xcel Energy, a company As You Sow has engaged for years, became the first U.S. utility to set a net-zero by 2050 emissions target in the fall of 2018. Since then, several utilities have joined the “net-zero” bandwagon, showing remarkable progress. Utilities that previously said they would never consider absolute or net-zero targets, have come around — driven by investor pressure, market forces, and technological advancement, among other factors.


Yet, despite strong targets, when assessing whether utility plans seem fit for the task of actually achieving such targets, investors are uncovering an alarming disconnect: most utilities are continuing to invest heavily in natural gas. Undeniably, natural gas has played an important role in moving energy systems off coal-fired generation. However, natural gas is a fossil fuel that generates considerable climate impacts in its own right, through methane leakage across the supply chain and through direct combustion emissions. 

According to Rocky Mountain Institute, billions of dollars of investment in natural gas infrastructure is ramping up across the U.S. This investment drive, which includes power plants and pipelines with multi-decadal lifespans, is prompting strong concern. How can utilities reach net zero goals and avoid stranded assets, while building out long-lived, fossil fuel-based natural gas infrastructure? 


As You Sow and Energy Innovation released a report in March to inform investors about the evolving risks associated with natural gas within the power sector: Natural Gas: A Bridge to Climate Breakdown. The report sheds light on how the proliferation of natural gas infrastructure threatens shareholder value — from investor portfolio risk, to company-level physical risk, regulatory and technological transition risk (including stranded assets), and reputational risk. To achieve climate stabilization, and protect investor portfolios from global climate risk, the bridge of natural gas and its associated emissions must have a clear end. 


Powerful forces are mounting in favor of clean alternatives over continued natural gas build. Increased levels of awareness, activism, and grassroots mobilization are bringing climate change to the forefront of public attention and increasing pressure on policymakers and companies to address greenhouse gas emissions. In terms of economics, clean energy alternatives are increasingly cost-competitive with gas. In almost all jurisdictions, utility scale wind and solar, without subsidies, now offer the cheapest source of new electricity. Local and state legislative commitments to ambitious clean energy goals are also on the rise, as is legislation specifically focused on curbing the use of natural gas. The electrification of buildings and vehicles further present opportunities to grow new electricity demand that can be met by clean resources. 


In the face of these drivers and concerns, investors have a unique role to play in the clean energy transition. Investors are well positioned to encourage power utilities to reduce the investment risks associated with an overreliance on natural gas and have begun engaging on these issues with some of the largest natural gas-reliant utilities in the U.S. 


Shareholders must continue to work with such utilities to push for greater transparency and ambition on ending the trend of continued natural gas reliance and to avoid a repeat of the early retirements being experienced by coal plants.


Disclaimer: Guest blogs represent the opinion of the writers and may not reflect the policy or position of the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.

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Bethlehem First Selectman Provides Update on Disposal of Tires at Transfer Station

By Nancy Dzija Vaughan | Prime Publishers • August 12, 2026
BETHLEHEM – First Selectman Raymond Butkus provided an update to the Board of Selectmen last Tuesday that included an announcement regarding the disposal of tires at the transfer station. Mr. Butkus said the CT Tire Stewardship program has gone into effect, According to the Northeast Recycling Council website, “the Connecticut Tire Stewardship (CTS) is the nonprofit organization responsible for implementing Connecticut’s Tire Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program. Working with municipal transfer stations, tire retailers, auto shops, car dealerships, and other collection partners, CTS helps ensure discarded tires are responsibly collected, recycled, and put to beneficial new uses.” The website goes on to state, “Approximately 3.5 million tires reach the end of their useful life in Connecticut each year. Through its statewide Roll Recycle Renew program, CTS provides residents with free tire recycling opportunities while giving municipalities a practical solution for managing scrap tires. By making responsible disposal more accessible, the program helps reduce illegal dumping, protect waterways and natural resources, and keep tires out of landfills.” Mr. Butkus said town residents will now be able to bring most tires to the town transfer at no cost. Tires will be accepted both on and off the rim. The exception is large tractor tires, tires for construction equipment, or excessively dirty tires. These tires will still ne accepted, however, there will be a fee for disposal. Mr. Butkus also reported that he held a meeting last week regarding the rewiring of the computer equipment at Town Hall. The project is expected to begin this week and will likely be completed by August 20. A new monitor has been located in the hallway of Town Hall. This monitor will be used to display a list of upcoming meetings along with announcements and photographs. Read on Prime Publishers .

NERC releases new policy guide to advance sustainable materials management

By Erin Finan | Recycling Today • August 12, 2026
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has released its 2026 Northeast States Policy Guide, a new regional resource that provides a comprehensive comparison of sustainable materials management policies across 11 states in the Northeastern U.S. “The guide serves as an excellent primer for state and industry stakeholders looking to learn about the various policy frameworks enacted across the Northeast and how they have been applied,” says NERC President Michael Nork, who also works as an environmental analyst for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Developed through a standardized survey of state government agencies, NERC says the guide serves as a practical reference for policymakers, municipal leaders, industry professionals and researchers looking to navigate and compare policies related to waste reduction, reuse, recycling and circular economy initiatives. The publication includes both regional policy analyses and detailed state profiles covering product bans, product stewardship (including extended producer responsibility), minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements, mandatory recycling laws and disposal bans. “This resource provides high-level insight into materials of interest that the Northeast has focused on managing for decades,” says Shannon McDonald, director at Maryland Department of the Environment in the Waste Diversion Division. “For a regulatory agency, specific resources that provide clear examples of replicable or considerable policy and management strategies are useful tools—having them in one place is even more valuable.” The guide compiles state-level data across Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont to highlight core regional policy trends, including: regional policy prevalence-- Regulatory frameworks are established across the region, with 10 of 11 states using product stewardship programs, 10 enforcing disposal bans and nine maintaining mandatory recycling laws; broadest state coverage -- Maine and Vermont regulate the widest variety of items in the region, 20 and 21, respectively, followed closely by New Jersey at 19 categories; top regulated materials -- Electronics are the most widely addressed material (regulated by 10 states), followed by mercury thermostats (9 states), tires (8 states), as well as paint, rechargeable batteries, beverage containers, fluorescent lighting, lead-acid batteries, mercury-added products and yard waste (7 states); funding and mechanism structures -- Among the region’s product stewardship programs, 47 percent are producer-funded, 15 percent rely on consumer point-of-sale eco-fees, 5 percent combine producer and consumer fees and 33 percent utilize alternative measures such as labeling, recyclability standards or disclosure requirements; and regulatory gaps and emerging opportunities -- Significant policy gaps exist in rapidly growing clean-energy waste streams. Currently, only one state addresses electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and zero states have statewide policy programs for solar panels. Unfilled coverage areas present opportunities for cross-state collaboration, policy alignment and regional innovation. By presenting data in a standardized format for each state, the guide enables stakeholders to easily compare regional policy approaches, identify coverage gaps and adapt regulatory models. “By standardizing how we measure product stewardship, PCR [postconsumer recyclables] mandates and disposal bans across all 11 states, this guide allows state leaders to quickly identify where their policies align with neighbors and where transferable models already exist,” says Mariane Medeiros, director of strategic engagement and sustainability programs at NERC. “With 10 of 11 states enforcing stewardship programs and disposal bans, the region has proven its ability to manage complex products. The next frontier is applying that same collaborative momentum to rapidly growing clean-energy waste streams like solar panels and EV batteries.” Read on Recycling Today.

NERC Releases New Northeast States Policy Guide to Advance Sustainable Materials Management Across the Region

By Mariane Medeiros • August 6, 2026
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) is pleased to announce the release of the 2026 Northeast States Policy Guide , a new regional resource that provides a comprehensive comparison of sustainable materials management policies across eleven Northeast states. “The guide serves as an excellent primer for state and industry stakeholders looking to learn about the various policy frameworks enacted across the northeast and how they have been applied,” said NERC President, Michael Nork, Environmental Analyst, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Developed through a standardized survey of state government agencies, the guide serves as a practical reference for policymakers, municipal leaders, industry professionals, and researchers seeking to navigate and compare policies related to waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and circular economy initiatives. The publication includes both regional policy analyses and detailed state profiles covering product bans, product stewardship (including Extended Producer Responsibility), minimum post-consumer recycled content requirements, mandatory recycling laws, and disposal bans. “This resource provides high level insight into materials of interest that the Northeast has focused on managing for decades. For a regulatory agency, specific resources that provide clear examples of replicable or considerable policy and management strategies are useful tools--having them in one place is even more valuable,” said Shannon McDonald, Waste Diversion Division, Director at Maryland Department of the Environment. Key Findings The guide aggregates state-level data across Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont to highlight core regional policy trends: Regional Policy Prevalence: Regulatory frameworks are widely established across the region, with 10 of 11 states using product stewardship programs, 10 enforcing disposal bans, and 9 maintaining mandatory recycling laws. Broadest State Coverage: Maine and Vermont regulate the widest variety of items in the region, 20 and 21, respectively, distinct material categories through state policies, followed closely by New Jersey at 19 categories. Top Regulated Materials: Electronics are the most widely addressed material (regulated by 10 states), followed by mercury thermostats (9 states), tires (8 states), followed by paint, rechargeable batteries, beverage containers, fluorescent lighting, lead-acid batteries, mercury-added products and yard waste (7 states). Funding & Mechanism Structures: Among the region’s product stewardship programs, 47% are producer-funded, 15% rely on consumer point-of-sale eco-fees, 5% combine producer and consumer fees, and 33% utilize alternative measures such as labeling, recyclability standards, or disclosure requirements. Regulatory Gaps & Emerging Opportunities: Significant policy gaps exist in rapidly growing clean-energy waste streams. Currently, only 1 state addresses electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and zero states have statewide policy programs for solar panels. Unfilled coverage areas present distinct opportunities for cross-state collaboration, policy alignment, and regional innovation. By presenting data in a standardized format for each state, the guide enables stakeholders to easily compare regional policy approaches, identify coverage gaps, and adapt proven regulatory models. "By standardizing how we measure product stewardship, PCR mandates, and disposal bans across all eleven states, this guide allows state leaders to quickly identify where their policies align with neighbors and where transferrable models already exist," said Mariane Medeiros, Director of Strategic Engagement and Sustainability Programs at NERC. "With 10 of 11 states enforcing stewardship programs and disposal bans, the region has proven its ability to manage complex products. The next frontier is applying that same collaborative momentum to rapidly growing clean-energy waste streams like solar panels and EV batteries." Alyssa Eiklor, Board Member and Environmental Analyst at Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, cited: “The NERC Policy Guide provides a valuable comparison of the similarities and differences in how northeastern states use policies as a tool for waste management. It also serves as a convenient short cut for linking directly to the policies.” The full 2026 Northeast States Policy Guide is available for download at: https://www.nerc.org/state-policy-guide About NERC The Northeast Recycling Council, Inc. (NERC) is a multi-state nonprofit organization committed to minimizing waste, conserving natural resources, and advancing a sustainable economy through collaboration and action. NERC's eleven member states and advisory members work together to address sustainable materials management challenges and promote solutions across the Northeast region.