Diane Leopold Will Be New AGA Chair

News ReleaseMarch 03, 2020

Washington, DC - Diane Leopold, executive vice president and co-chief operating officer of Dominion Energy will be the Chair of the American Gas Association (AGA) Board of Directors.

'America's natural gas utilities are working every day to build a safe, clean energy future for the people and communities we serve,' said Leopold. 'While the move from coal to natural gas has dramatically lowered emissions from the power sector, we know there is much more to do. We are using advanced technologies to reduce methane emissions across the natural gas delivery system. We are increasing our energy efficiency programs, so our customers can use less. We are helping other industries reduce their reliance on higher-carbon fuels, so they can lower their carbon footprints too. I am incredibly proud to take the helm of the American Gas Association at this exciting time, and I look forward to working with AGA member companies in every corner of the country as we build momentum for a cleaner future together.'

At Dominion Energy, Leopold oversees three operating segments: Gas Transmission & Storage, consisting of 15,900 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipelines, gas storage operations and the Cove Point LNG facility; Gas Distribution, which has four gas local distribution companies serving nearly 3 million customer accounts in Idaho, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming; and Dominion Energy South Carolina, a natural gas and electric utility serving 1.1 million customer accounts.

'Diane Leopold is a strong voice for our industry, leading by example through her steadfast vision for how our industry can continue to be clean energy leaders in the coming decades. We are incredibly fortunate to have her stepping into this role at this time as we focus on pathways to achieve our shared goal of reducing emissions while maintaining the quality of life that Americans enjoy,' said AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert.

Harbert pointed to Dominion Energy's renewable natural gas (RNG) initiative as an example of utility efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through smart innovation, new and modernized infrastructure, and advanced technologies that maintain reliable, resilient, and affordable energy service choices for consumers. A recent study by the American Gas Foundation estimates that by 2040 approximately 4,513 trillion Btu of RNG could be produced annually leading to a 95 percent reduction in emissions from the natural gas residential sector.

Leopold has been at Dominion Energy for 25 years. She was previously senior vice president-Business Development & Generation Construction; senior vice president-Dominion Transmission; and Executive Vice President and President and CEO-Gas Infrastructure Group. Leopold became president of the natural gas business unit in January 2014, CEO in January 2017 and was promoted to executive vice president in May 2017. She assumed her current role in December 2019.

On February 19, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. announced that Scott M. Prochazka stepped down as President and Chief Executive Officer. Prochazka served as Chair of the AGA Board of Directors prior to that date. David H. Anderson, President & CEO of NW Natural based in Portland, OR will assume the First Vice Chair role previously held by Leopold. Kimberly Greene, Chair, President & CEO of Southern Company Gas based in Atlanta, GA was elected as Second Vice Chair.

The American Gas Association, founded in 1918, represents more than 200 local energy companies that deliver clean natural gas throughout the United States. There are more than 75 million residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers in the U.S., of which 95 percent - more than 71 million customers - receive their gas from AGA members. Today, natural gas meets more than three-tenths of the United States' energy needs.