Speaker: Scott White, President, IGS Energy

Posted by Lisa Blackwell 
on Nov 18, 2011
 
Green Energy in Dublin
 
Scott White founded IGS Energy with 3 employees and an annual revenue of $1 million. Today the employees number 200 with revenue at $1.4 billion. Their Dublin Headquarters is the only Platinum LEED building in Central Ohio. Scott and his family make their home in Dublin.
 
Scott shared the vision that drives IGS:
  • IGS operates in 11 states with plans to expand as utility deregulation continues
  • IGS sells energy with a commitment to helping consumers to educate themselves about their energy costs and choices. Consumers already understand how to calculate gasoline mpg for their cars and with the right tools they can do this for other forms of energy consumption
  • Competition among energy retailers leads to better pricing options for consumers
  • The United States is second only to China as an energy consumer and our energy use is unlikely to lessen.
  • Petroleum accounts for 37% of energy usage, more than any other type. Because oil is a global commodity and we use more than we can produce we must import much or our needs - at increasingly heavy costs as producers command prices to match demand. We have cleaner alternatives to exploit to lesson the vulnerability that comes from being heavily dependent on foreign oil.
  • Natural gas is an abundant domestic resource for which there is also not currently a global market. While the export model to create a global market is developed we can invest in using is as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petroleum. Natural gas can power vehicles for the equivalent of $2 dollar per gallon while emitting 25% less CO2 and 95% fewer particularates than diesal.
IGS envisions growing the market for natural gas in a variety of ways:
  • Create energy price transparency that will lead consumers to view natural gas as a smart alternative
  • Increase industrial demand for domestic natural gas
  • Increase transportation use of natural gas, promoting electric and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles by strengthening the infrastructure and supply
 
One final note that may have surprised a few in the audience -- the City of Dublin is a leader in fostering CNG vehicle adoption. They have successfully converted 44 vehicles out of a planned 200. Due to the City's commitment to green energy they are also supporting the work necessary to make CNG available and appealing to consumers.