Building on a track record of accomplishments over the last two years, Williams employees have embraced an ambitious vision to provide the best transport, storage and delivery solutions for reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy far into the future.
Williams President & CEO Alan Armstrong along with other company leaders shared this vision with Wall Street analysts this week during investor-focused presentations. The day culminated when three of the company’s longest-tenured employees – all with more than 40 years with Williams – rang the closing bell in celebration of 55 years on the New York Stock Exchange.
“People are really excited about what we’re doing and how we’re driving the business forward,” said Armstrong. “That energy is really coming through — through our New Energy Ventures effort and our effort to reduce emissions across our operations and as we continue to grow the business pretty dramatically. I love hearing our employees embrace that message, and it’s certainly something that we’re all excited about.”
In addition to reporting record financial and operational success for 2021, Williams received top ESG rankings for the midstream sector and won a prestigious award for industry leadership. The company also kicked off a multi-year modernization and emissions reduction program across our transmission network as part of its long-term commitment to safe, reliable and environmentally friendly operations.
Other milestones achieved in 2020 and 2021 include:
- First North American midstream company to establish a climate commitment with actionable emissions reduction goals
- Hosting an inaugural ESG day in 2021 to engage with investors around our sustainability strategy
- Launching New Energy Ventures, a business development group focused on commercializing innovative technologies, markets and business models in order to achieve carbon reductions for ourselves, our customers and partners
- Recognition across several key ESG rankings in 2021, including CDP, Dow Jones Sustainability Index (“DJSI”), Sustainalytics and MSCI, for commitment to transparency and governance around climate change
- First in peer group in the DJSI and only U.S. energy company in the DJSI world index
- Improving diversity in company leadership with women and ethnic minorities holding 30% of all leader roles in 2021, up from 26% in 2020
- Record contracted natural gas transmission capacity, record natural gas gathering volumes and record financial results in 2021
“Every one of these milestones that we hit is really just a clear recognition of the way our employees are pitching in and really articulating the kind of changes that we’re bringing to our business,” Armstrong said. “In fact, on behalf of our employees this year, I was honored to accept the 2021 Award of Excellence from S&P Global Platts in December for our company’s great efforts where we were recognized for our leadership in the industry, particularly as it relates to progressing towards climate goals and incorporating low emission operating practices and technology in our energy infrastructure network.”