Houston – Sept. 28, 2020 – Leading energy partner CenterPoint Energy today announced a goal to replace 100 percent of its current electric operations light-duty fleet vehicles, such as cars, vans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), with electric vehicles in Houston and Evansville, Ind., by 2030. The company has an ongoing commitment to ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy, while leveraging innovative technology to continue reducing emissions and transition the communities it serves to a clean energy future.
"CenterPoint Energy has continued to offset our carbon footprint and promote cleaner air by replacing fossil-fueled vehicles and equipment with alternative power choices since 2011," said Kenny Mercado, CenterPoint Energy's Senior Vice President, Electric Utility. "We strive to lead by example and have steadily increased our fleet electrification as suitable vehicles and technology have come available."
The company has a plan to replace 50 percent of current electric operations light-duty fleet vehicles by 2025 and complete the replacement by 2030. In addition, 5 percent of electric operations heavy-duty vehicles will be replaced by 2025 and 10 percent by 2030. As the market evolves, emission reduction goals for all classes of vehicles will be re-evaluated.
To reduce emissions, CenterPoint Energy continues to invest in infrastructure modernization, as well as research and development projects. At the same time, the company remains committed to support the communities where it operates with their climate action goals, focusing on driving lower emissions across the natural gas value chain to ensure its continued role in supporting the transition of the nation's power generation fleet to meet lower carbon emission goals.
This year, CenterPoint Energy introduced its Carbon Policy with a goal to reduce its operational emissions by 70 percent by 2035 and emissions attributable to natural gas usage in heating, appliances and equipment within the residential and commercial sectors by 20 to 30 percent by 2040. The company is among the first energy delivery companies to make an emissions-reduction commitment across a multi-state footprint.
CenterPoint Energy's fleet electrification plan aligns with the City of Houston's Climate Action Plan goal to electrify 100 percent of non-emergency light-duty fleet by 2030. The company is a founding member of EVolve Houston, a coalition of sustainability-minded civic, business, and academic leaders who seek to accelerate clean transportation through electrification in the Greater Houston area. CenterPoint Energy is also collaborating with the City of Evansville on the creation and implementation of their Climate Action Plan. By 2050, Evansville will be a regional leader in addressing climate change and a zero-waste community, powered by renewable energy, where all people have access to efficient transportation alternatives, public green spaces, clean air and water, and locally sourced, fresh food.
About CenterPoint Energy
As the only investor owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. As of June 30, 2020, the company owned approximately $32 billion in assets and also owned 53.7 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns, operates and develops strategically located natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With approximately 9,600 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.
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