NiSource reaffirms commitment to a diverse energy future with launch of multi-phase hydrogen blending project

Charting a course to a sustainable energy future for all, NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced the launch of a multi-phase hydrogen blending project – one of the first in the United States to use a blending skid in a controlled setting to mix hydrogen and natural gas at precise levels to determine optimal blend percentages and their environmental and consumer benefits.

Elected officials and community leaders joined NiSource President and Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Yates and other company officials on Oct. 5, at the program’s launch at the Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Training Center’s Safety Town in Monaca, Pa., where the hydrogen blending skid has been constructed, to tout the possible benefits of this clean energy solution.

“At NiSource we believe that a balanced energy future is one where no one is left behind, and to achieve that goal, we must include a diverse portfolio of energy sources to meet our current and future energy needs,” said Yates. “Our existing natural gas infrastructure positions us well to bring our customers along into the energy of the future, and hydrogen blending is one promising solution we are exploring to enhance sustainability and to deliver a safe and reliable energy source to our customers.”

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of NiSource, partnered with EN Engineering to construct the hydrogen blending skid, which allows for the controlled blending of hydrogen into Safety Town’s natural gas system at various percentages, ranging from two to 20 percent.

To demonstrate the efficacy of the blended fuel, NiSource built a specially designed on-site model home equipped with natural gas appliances to simulate everyday usage in a residential home environment. Ongoing field confirmations are being evaluated hydrogen’s effect on the natural gas itself, equipment, piping, and the net change in carbon emissions from blending, with favorable results.

Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on earth. It can be produced from a variety of energy sources, stored for future use, piped to where it is needed and converted into a clean source for heat and electricity. We believe that hydrogen can be a zero-carbon fuel because when combusted, hydrogen produces water vapor, not greenhouse gas emissions. We are exploring how hydrogen can be safely produced, transported, stored, and blended into the existing natural gas grid to help decarbonize natural gas pipelines.  

Throughout the multi-phase hydrogen blending project, NiSource will continue to evaluate the viability of hydrogen-natural gas blends for other applications such as factories and power plants. Based on the results and data collected, future phases of the program could include the introduction of a hydrogen-blend into a live-gas environment using the company’s existing gas distribution infrastructure that serves customers today.

The blending program is one facet of NiSource’s overall Future of Energy strategy, which includes a dynamic range of clean energy solutions ranging from solar, wind, electricity and renewable natural gas to secure a sustainable energy future for all.

“Integrating hydrogen into our energy future is complementary to renewable energy and could further enhance the global energy transition underway,” said Yates. “Our overall goal remains to lower emissions and ensure the availability of an array of environmentally sustainable energy sources while balancing affordability, reliability and other economic considerations for our customers.”

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania delivers clean, affordable, and efficient natural gas to approximately 445,000 customers. With headquarters in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, it is one of NiSource’s six regulated utility companies. NiSource (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.2 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. More information about Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and NiSource is available at www.ColumbiaGasPA.com and www.nisource.com.

NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.2 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. Based in Merrillville, Indiana, NiSource's approximately 7,500 employees are focused on safely delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers and communities we serve. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index - North America. Additional information about NiSource, its investments in modern infrastructure and systems, its commitments and its local brands can be found at www.nisource.com. Follow us at www.facebook.com/nisource, www.linkedin.com/company/nisource or www.twitter.com/nisourceinc. NI-F

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Investors and prospective investors should understand that many factors govern whether any forward-looking statement contained herein will be or can be realized. Any one of those factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our plans, strategies, objectives, expected performance, and any and all underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. Expressions of future goals and expectations and similar expressions, including "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "aims," "seeks," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "targets," "forecast," and "continue," reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable; however, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations discussed in this press release include, among other things, our ability to execute our business plan or growth strategy, including utility infrastructure investments; potential incidents and other operating risks associated with our business; our ability to adapt to, and manage costs related to, advances in, or failures of, technology; impacts related to our aging infrastructure; our ability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage and whether such coverage will protect us against significant losses; the success of our electric generation strategy; construction risks and natural gas costs and supply risks; fluctuations in demand from residential and commercial customers; fluctuations in the price of energy commodities and related transportation costs or an inability to obtain an adequate, reliable and cost-effective fuel supply to meet customer demands; the attraction and retention of a qualified, diverse workforce and ability to maintain good labor relations; our ability to manage new initiatives and organizational changes; the actions of activist stockholders; the performance of third-party suppliers and service providers; potential cybersecurity-attacks; increased requirements and costs related to cybersecurity; any damage to our reputation; any remaining liabilities or impact related to the sale of the Massachusetts Business; the impacts of natural disasters, potential terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events; the physical impacts of climate change and the transition to a lower carbon future; our ability to manage the financial and operational risks related to achieving our carbon emission reduction goals; our debt obligations; any changes to our credit rating or the credit rating of certain of our subsidiaries; any adverse effects related to our equity units; adverse economic and capital market conditions or increases in interest rates; economic regulation and the impact of regulatory rate reviews; our ability to obtain expected financial or regulatory outcomes; continuing and potential future impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic; economic conditions in certain industries; the reliability of customers and suppliers to fulfill their payment and contractual obligations; the ability of our subsidiaries to generate cash; pension funding obligations; potential impairments of goodwill; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings, investigations, incidents, claims and litigation; potential remaining liabilities related to the Greater Lawrence Incident; compliance with applicable laws, regulations and tariffs; compliance with environmental laws and the costs of associated liabilities; changes in taxation; and other matters set forth in Part I, Item 1, "Business," Item 1A, "Risk Factors" and Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," of the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and matters set forth in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, some of which risks are beyond our control.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. We undertake no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any such obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or changes to the future results over time or otherwise, except as required by law.