Carbon Offsets for Residential Natural Gas
September 20, 2010
The below is a press release (edited for space) from Electric Advisors' electricity/natural-gas supplier in the residential market.
Washington Gas Energy Services, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Sterling Planet partner on new initiative to reduce greenhouse gases and improve air and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay region
WGES CleanStepsSM Carbon Offsets now available to natural gas customers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia; effort includes creation of new Carbon Reduction Fund designed to help clean the Chesapeake Bay
Annapolis, Maryland — Today, a first-of-its-kind partnership of corporations and environmentalists announced a new initiative designed to reduce greenhouse gases and improve air and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay region. Leading competitive natural gas and electricity supplier Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES), renowned environmental organization the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, transportation logistics firm J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and clean energy pioneer Sterling Planet, have joined forces to launch CleanStepsSM Carbon Offsets, a new feature of WGES’ natural gas supply service that includes a newly created Carbon Reduction Fund.
“We have been offering creative energy supply options to our customers in the mid-Atlantic region for nearly 15 years,” said Harry Warren, President of WGES. “CleanStepsSM Carbon Offsets brings a new, environmentally-friendly product feature to our natural gas customers and is part of our broader corporate commitment to clean and efficient energy solutions.”
When customers choose WGES as their natural gas supplier, a portion of their natural gas usage is matched with CleanStepsSM Carbon Offsets. Customers can also choose to match 100% of their natural gas usage with CleanStepsSM Carbon Offsets.
Greenhouse gas emissions are an unavoidable result of our modern lifestyles – driving a car or keeping our homes comfortably cool or warm – and are part of our “carbon footprint”. On the other side, balancing out these emissions, are carbon offsets. Carbon offsets are an easy, effective way to help restore nature’s balance.
Carbon offsets will come from clean air projects that result in greenhouse gas reductions, as well as other local and regional benefits. In addition, funding will be provided to the newly established Carbon Reduction Fund, administered by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The fund will be used to develop new carbon offset projects that also promote the health of the Bay.
Initially, a major source of carbon offsets will be those created by J.B. Hunt through their industry-leading program to reduce long-haul trucking mileage by shifting freight to more efficient rail transportation. “By transferring containers from trucks to trains, we not only reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, but we also improve local air quality and reduce traffic by putting fewer trucks on busy highways,” said Gary Whicker, Senior Vice President, Engineering Services for J.B. Hunt.
The Carbon Reduction Fund will be supported by contributions from both Sterling Planet and WGES, contributions that will reach over $200,000 per year when WGES’s current customer base transitions to the new standard offer. The funds will be used by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to plant trees along rivers and streams that feed into the Bay, and to work with area farmers to implement new agricultural practices that reduce toxic runoff. “Every seedling planted in the Chesapeake Bay region helps to clean the air we breathe and improve the water quality in our rivers, streams and the Bay,” said William C. Baker, President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “This partnership is a great example of putting action behind words and creating tangible results,” he added. “We are excited to be a part of this market-driven solution that engages corporations, non-profits and energy customers in addressing global and local problems.”
“This innovative, ground-breaking partnership is just one example of how we can bring diverse enterprises together to benefit the environment in a way that makes sound business sense for all involved,” noted Mel Jones, President and CEO of Sterling Planet. “We are proud to see this unique partnership come to fruition, supporting existing carbon-reduction projects and also funding new projects that will continue to benefit the environment for years to come.”
Learn more about CleanStepsSM Carbon Offsets at www.cleansteps.com/offsets.
Every golfer has a round they remember. It might be a personal best, a long putt that somehow found the cup, or a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway. For me, the most meaningful round has less to do with my score and more to do with the people gathered around the first tee. That round is the Purple Tee Classic. On Thursday, September 17, 2026 , Metro Bethesda Rotary will host the 20th Annual Purple Tee Classic at Whiskey Creek , with a 10:00 a.m. shotgun start. This will be my third year leading the tournament, and my final year in that leadership role. That makes this year especially meaningful to me. More Than a Golf Tournament The Purple Tee Classic is a day of golf, but it is really about much more than a day on the course. It brings together business owners, community members, Rotarians, friends, families, veterans, and first responders around a shared purpose. The fundraiser supports veterans and first responders, people who have served, protected, and supported our communities in ways most of us will never fully understand. Golf gives us the setting. Service gives the day its meaning. That is what I value most about Rotary. The organization creates opportunities for people to put relationships, resources, and time to work for something larger than themselves. The Rotary principle of “Service Above Self” is not just a phrase. It is something we are asked to live out by showing up, contributing, and following through. The Purple Tee Classic is one of the clearest examples of that principle in action. Why This Final Year Matters Leading a tournament like this takes more than setting a tee time and asking people to come out and play. It takes planning, coordination, communication, fundraising, and a team willing to handle the many details most participants will never see. That is one of the biggest things I want to say clearly this year: this event is absolutely a team effort. The Metro Bethesda Rotary members involved in this committee do a tremendous amount behind the scenes. They help plan, coordinate, communicate, recruit sponsors and players, and keep things moving in all the ways that make an event like this possible. A lot of that work is not flashy. It is steady, thoughtful, behind-the-scenes effort that helps turn a good idea into a real event that serves real people. I have been fortunate to work alongside fellow Rotary members who care deeply about Rotary’s mission and the causes the tournament supports. I am genuinely grateful for their time, commitment, and willingness to do the work that needs to get done. Events like this do not come together because of one person. They come together because a group of committed people keeps showing up and doing their part. It also takes the support of a broader community. Over the past three years, I have seen how a simple invitation, to play a round of golf or contribute an auction item, can become part of a much larger effort. As I prepare for my final year leading the Purple Tee, I am thinking less about the fact that my leadership role is ending and more about what I hope continues. I hope the tournament continues to bring people together. I hope new sponsors and players discover the value of supporting a community event with a clear purpose. And I hope every participant leaves Whiskey Creek remembering that the best part of the day was never just the golf. It was the difference we helped make by showing up. How You Can Help There are several ways to support this milestone event: Become a tournament sponsor. Help strengthen the event while putting your organization in front of an engaged local community. Register a foursome . Bring colleagues, friends, clients, or family members for a meaningful day on the course. Sponsor a veteran or first responder. Help someone enjoy a round of golf and participate in the Purple Tee experience. Donate an item or experience. Raffle and auction contributions add energy to the day and help expand the event’s fundraising potential. Every form of participation matters. Not everyone can sponsor at the same level, and not everyone plays golf. But everyone can consider whether they, or someone they know, might be able to help. Key Takeaways The 20th Annual Purple Tee Classic will take place at Whiskey Creek on September 17, 2026. This is my third year leading the tournament and my final year in that leadership role. The fundraiser supports veterans and first responders. Sponsors, foursomes, individual player support, and donated auction or raffle items are all important. Rotary has given me the opportunity to serve with people who care about their community and are willing to turn good intentions into action. I am grateful for that opportunity, grateful for the people I get to work alongside, and determined to make this final year leading the Purple Tee Classic a memorable one. If you would like to support the event, please visit purpletee.fundraiser.bid . You can also message me directly if you are interested or know someone who may want to help. One last round in this leadership role. One more opportunity to bring people together. And one more chance to support the veterans and first responders who deserve our gratitude.
Your guide to Energy Incentives for Maryland is here
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