b'Providing Natural Gas to Communities Across Illinoisthe installation of 30 miles of natural gas infrastructure connecting from nearby St. Anne to Hopkins Park and Pembroke Township, residents can now choose natural gas for their heating needs. As of now, over 200 residents have signed up for this service.Smart NeighborhoodIn collaboration with Nicor Gas, Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity broke ground on a subdivision com-prised of 17 energy-efficient homes in Aurora, Illinois. The primary objective is to establish the states inaugural net-zero, carbon-neutral and affordable neighborhood. Each technologically advanced home willThis AI-generated image shows what a clean hydrogen production and distribution hub might look like.feature natural gas service, comple-mented by rooftop solar installations, high efficiency building envelopesal clean hydrogen production and and in-home battery energy storagedistribution hub, known as H2Hub. systems. Additionally, SMART panelsThis initiative is being funded will monitor energy consumption,through the Infrastructure Invest- H2Hubs are set towhile insulated concrete form wallsment and Jobs Act. accelerate the widespread enhance insulation. This AuroraH2Hubs are set to accelerate the neighborhood is one of two upcom- widespread implementation of cleanimplementation of clean ing Smart Neighborhoods spear- hydrogen on a commercial scale, fa-headed by Habitat for Humanity andcilitating the generation of clean andhydrogen on a commer-Nicor Gas, with the second one slateddispatchable power and introducingcial scale, facilitating the to begin construction in Northerna new form of energy storage, among Fox Valley later in 2024. other benefits. generation of clean and Midwest Alliance for CleanRecognizing the pivotal role of natural gas and its associated infra- dispatchable power and Hydrogen structure in shaping a clean energyintroducing a new form Nicor Gas is actively involved in thefuture, Nicor Gas is committed to Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydro- exploring how we can leverage ourof energy storage, among gen, known as MachH2, which hasexpertise in safe and reliable natural been chosen by the U.S. Departmentgas delivery to support the distribu- other benefits.of Energys Office of Clean Energytion of clean hydrogen from local Demonstrations to establish a region- producers to industrial end-users.MARCH 20247'