Washington Gas is targeting a 70 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its fleet and facilities operations by 2020, compared against a 2008 baseline.

To meet the target the Washington, D.C. area energy company will utilize natural gas and LEED Gold building standards in its new office and operations center in Springfield, Va. It will also deploy energy efficiency improvements at multiple satellite stations within the Washington Gas service territory, the company says.

Other emission reductions will come from the continued deployment of natural gas vehicles. Washington Gas plans to double its fleet of natural gas vehicles to over 200 vehicles by 2020. The vehicles emit 90 percent less particulates and have on average a 25 percent smaller carbon footprint than similar gasoline-powered vehicles, the company says.

Washington Gas also plans to take significant actions to reduce emissions from its gas delivery system. Its objective is to realize at least a 12 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for every therm of natural gas delivered in 2015, and at least an 18 percent reduction by 2020.

In October, food and agriculture company Perdue Incorporated installed a solar array consisting of panels owned by Washington Gas affiliate Washington Gas Energy Services.

The 5,040 panel solar plant in Salisbury, Md., lies on land adjacent to Purdue’s corporate headquarters.